Could a simple head lift improve breathing in obese patients during surgery?

NCT ID NCT06305273

Recruiting now Knowledge-focused Sponsor: Mount Sinai Hospital, Canada Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study looks at whether raising the head and torso 25 degrees helps people with severe obesity (BMI over 40) breathe better through a facemask while under general anesthesia. Fifty adults scheduled for elective surgery will be placed in both a flat and a head-elevated position, and the amount of air they get with each breath will be measured. The goal is to find a simple way to reduce difficult mask ventilation in this group.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a simple positioning technique to improve oxygen delivery during anesthesia for people with severe obesity.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage crossover trial with only 50 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The intervention is a head position, not a drug or device, so the impact is limited.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Obesity obesity disorder

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

OBESITY

Contacts and locations

Locations

Mount Sinai Hospital
RECRUITING

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1X5, Canada

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