Postoperative HypoxemiaNCT07161817
Effect of Postural Changes on Postoperative Hypoxemia
A study testing Lateral positioning and Semirecumbent positioning in people with Postoperative Hypoxemia and Position Differences, run by Yuhu Ma.
Trial summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which positioning strategy works better to prevent postoperative hypoxemia in surgical patients: semirecumbent positioning or lateral positioning. It will also learn about the safety and effectiveness of these two positioning approaches. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Postoperative Hypoxemia, Position Differences
- What is being tested?
- Lateral positioning and Semirecumbent positioning
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 1,200 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- 1 Feb 2026to 1 Oct 2028
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Patients aged 18 or above and 80 or below who received general anesthesia and intubation
- Patients aged 18 years and above, and 80 years and below, who received general anesthesia and intubation;
Who cannot join
- Presence of hypotension or bradycardia upon entering the anesthesia recovery room;
- Preoperative hypoxemia;
- Surgical procedures where body position adjustment is not possible or is prohibited due to the nature of the surgery;
- Surgical procedures involving severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, severe pulmonary diseases, intracranial hypertension, etc.;
- Intubation more than 3 times.
Trial locations and contacts
No sites are listed yet. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
About this study
Official title: Effect of Semirecumbent and Lateral Positioning on Postoperative Hypoxemia : a Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which positioning strategy works better to prevent postoperative hypoxemia in surgical patients: semirecumbent positioning or lateral positioning. It will also learn about the safety and effectiveness of these two positioning approaches. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does semirecumbent positioning reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia more effectively than lateral positioning? Does lateral positioning reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia more effectively than semirecumbent positioning? What are the differences in patient comfort and recovery outcomes between these two positioning strategies? Researchers will compare semirecumbent positioning directly to lateral positioning to see which approach is more effective in preventing postoperative hypoxemia.
Read more
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to either semirecumbent positioning or lateral positioning after surgery Have their oxygen levels and breathing monitored regularly during the postoperative period Receive standard post-surgical care with their assigned positioning strategy Be assessed for comfort levels and any positioning-related complications Have their recovery progress tracked throughout their hospital stay.
- Conditions
- Postoperative Hypoxemia, Position Differences
- Being tested
- Lateral positioning, Semirecumbent positioning
- Keywords
- Lateral positioning, Hypoxemia, Semirecumbent positioning
- Medical subject headings
- Hypoxia
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Lateral positioningBehavioural
Patients allocated to lateral positioning were placed at 90° on a horizontal bed, supported with a pillow to maintain neutral alignment of the spine and avoid hyperextension or forward flexion of the neck. No preference was specified for left or right lateral decubitus positioning, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements.
Semirecumbent positioningBehavioural
Patients in the semi-recumbent position were placed in the bed and the head of the bed was raised by 30 °, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Semirecumbent positioning | Experimental | Patients in the Semirecumbent positioning were placed in the bed and the head of the bed was raised by 30 °, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements. Receives: Behavioral: Semirecumbent positioning |
| Lateral positioning | Experimental | Patients allocated to lateral positioning were placed at 90° on a horizontal bed, supported with a pillow to maintain neutral alignment of the spine and avoid hyperextension or forward flexion of the neck. No preference was specified for left or right lateral decubitus positioning, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements. Receives: Behavioral: Lateral positioning |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Incidence of hypoxaemia
Defined as any occurrence of oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤90% for at least five seconds during the initial 10 minute period after positioning.
Measured: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
Secondary outcomes (6)
Rrequency of airway rescue interventions
Increased oxygen flow, jaw thrust manoeuvre, mask ventilation
Measured: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
incidence of severe hypoxaemia
oxyhemoglobin saturation ≤85%
Measured: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
Lowest oxygen saturation
Defined as the oxygenation nadir during 10 minutes of continuous measurement.
Measured: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
Duration of stay in the post-anaesthesia care
Duration of stay in the post-anaesthesia care
Measured: Perioperative/Periprocedural
wound pain
VAS scale was used to measure pain intensity. The VAS uses a 10 cm line with endpoint descriptors such as 'no pain' marked at the left end of the line and 'worst pain imaginable' marked at the right end. A VAS score between 4-7 represents "mild pain", a score between 4-7 represents "moderate pain" and a score between 8-10 represents "severe pain".
Measured: Perioperative/Periprocedural
Adverse events
hypotension, arrhythmia, and some other adverse events.
Measured: Perioperative/Periprocedural
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted9 Sep 2025
- Study start1 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Oct 2028 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Postoperative HypoxemiaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 1,200 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Yuhu Ma
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor-investigator, Yuhu Ma, LanZhou University
- Investigators
- Yatao Liu, Doctor, Principal investigator
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07161817
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Postoperative Hypoxemia
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 23 Aug 2025
- Last updated
- 14 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Wang X, Guo K, Sun J, Yang Y, Wu Y, Tang X, Xu Y, Chen Q, Zeng S, Wang L, Liu S. Semirecumbent Positioning During Anesthesia Recovery and Postoperative Hypoxemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 3;7(6):e2416797. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.16797.
PubMed 38941098Ye H, Chu LH, Xie GH, Hua YJ, Lou Y, Wang QH, Xu ZX, Tang MY, Wang BD, Hu HY, Ying J, Yu T, Wang HY, Wang Y, Ye ZJ, Bao XF, Wang MC, Chen LY, Wang XX, Zhang XB, Huang CS, Wang J, Lu YP, Luo FQ, Zhou W, Wang CG, Cheng H, Liu WJ, Luo J, Wu YQ, Li RR, Wang D, Hou LQ, Shi L, Zhang J, Wang K, Pi X, Zhou R, Yang QQ, Wan PL, Li H, Wu SJ, Song SW, Cui P, Shu L, Islam N, Fang XM. Effect of lateral versus supine positioning on hypoxaemia in sedated adults: multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2025 Aug 19;390:e084539. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-084539.
PubMed 40829895
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 14 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effect of Semirecumbent and Lateral Positioning on Postoperative Hypoxemia : a Randomized Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07161817
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Postoperative Hypoxemia
- Conditions
- Postoperative Hypoxemia, Position Differences
- Keywords
- Lateral positioning, Hypoxemia, Semirecumbent positioning
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 1,200 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Yuhu MaUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Feb 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- 1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Oct 2028 (estimated)
- First posted
- 9 Sep 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn which positioning strategy works better to prevent postoperative hypoxemia in surgical patients: semirecumbent positioning or lateral positioning. It will also learn about the safety and effectiveness of these two positioning approaches. The main questions it aims to answer are:
Does semirecumbent positioning reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia more effectively than lateral positioning? Does lateral positioning reduce the incidence of postoperative hypoxemia more effectively than semirecumbent positioning? What are the differences in patient comfort and recovery outcomes between these two positioning strategies? Researchers will compare semirecumbent positioning directly to lateral positioning to see which approach is more effective in preventing postoperative hypoxemia.
Participants will:
Be randomly assigned to either semirecumbent positioning or lateral positioning after surgery Have their oxygen levels and breathing monitored regularly during the postoperative period Receive standard post-surgical care with their assigned positioning strategy Be assessed for comfort levels and any positioning-related complications Have their recovery progress tracked throughout their hospital stay.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Semirecumbent positioning | Experimental | Behavioral: Semirecumbent positioningPatients in the Semirecumbent positioning were placed in the bed and the head of the bed was raised by 30 °, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements. |
| Lateral positioning | Experimental | Behavioral: Lateral positioningPatients allocated to lateral positioning were placed at 90° on a horizontal bed, supported with a pillow to maintain neutral alignment of the spine and avoid hyperextension or forward flexion of the neck. No preference was specified for left or right lateral decubitus positioning, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (2 listed)
- Patients aged 18 or above and 80 or below who received general anesthesia and intubation
- Patients aged 18 years and above, and 80 years and below, who received general anesthesia and intubation;
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Presence of hypotension or bradycardia upon entering the anesthesia recovery room;
- Preoperative hypoxemia;
- Surgical procedures where body position adjustment is not possible or is prohibited due to the nature of the surgery;
- Surgical procedures involving severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases, severe pulmonary diseases, intracranial hypertension, etc.;
- Intubation more than 3 times.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Lateral positioningPatients allocated to lateral positioning were placed at 90° on a horizontal bed, supported with a pillow to maintain neutral alignment of the spine and avoid hyperextension or forward flexion of the neck. No preference was specified for left or right lateral decubitus positioning, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements. | Behavioural | Lateral positioning |
| Semirecumbent positioningPatients in the semi-recumbent position were placed in the bed and the head of the bed was raised by 30 °, allowing flexibility based on patient comfort and surgical requirements. | Behavioural | Semirecumbent positioning |
Primary outcome
Incidence of hypoxaemia
Time frame: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
Defined as any occurrence of oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≤90% for at least five seconds during the initial 10 minute period after positioning.
6 secondary outcomes
Rrequency of airway rescue interventions
Time frame: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
incidence of severe hypoxaemia
Time frame: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
Lowest oxygen saturation
Time frame: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed
Duration of stay in the post-anaesthesia care
Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural
wound pain
Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural
Adverse events
Time frame: Perioperative/Periprocedural
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 14 Jan 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 38941098Wang X, Guo K, Sun J, Yang Y, Wu Y, Tang X, Xu Y, Chen Q, Zeng S, Wang L, Liu S. Semirecumbent Positioning During Anesthesia Recovery and Postoperative Hypoxemia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Netw Open. 2024 Jun 3;7(6):e2416797. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.16797.
- Results publication: PubMed 40829895Ye H, Chu LH, Xie GH, Hua YJ, Lou Y, Wang QH, Xu ZX, Tang MY, Wang BD, Hu HY, Ying J, Yu T, Wang HY, Wang Y, Ye ZJ, Bao XF, Wang MC, Chen LY, Wang XX, Zhang XB, Huang CS, Wang J, Lu YP, Luo FQ, Zhou W, Wang CG, Cheng H, Liu WJ, Luo J, Wu YQ, Li RR, Wang D, Hou LQ, Shi L, Zhang J, Wang K, Pi X, Zhou R, Yang QQ, Wan PL, Li H, Wu SJ, Song SW, Cui P, Shu L, Islam N, Fang XM. Effect of lateral versus supine positioning on hypoxaemia in sedated adults: multicentre randomised controlled trial. BMJ. 2025 Aug 19;390:e084539. doi: 10.1136/bmj-2025-084539.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
Yatao Liu, Doctor principal investigator
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Lateral positioning and Semirecumbent positioning in people with Postoperative Hypoxemia and Position Differences, run by Yuhu Ma.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 2 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 14 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Yuhu Ma, Master (18419379740, mayh20@lzu.edu.cn), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Incidence of hypoxaemia (time frame: Within 24 hours after the surgery was completed). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07161817, which also lists 2 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 14 Jan 2026.