Auditory and touch stimulation to help people wake after general anesthesia
Effects of Non-pharmacological Auditory and Somatosensory Stimulation on the Efficiency and Quality of Emergence From General Anesthesia
This trial will try verbal cues plus shoulder tapping or shaking during emergence to see if adults having laparoscopic abdominal surgery wake faster and more smoothly from general anesthesia.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 205 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 65 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | West China Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Chengdu, Sichuan) |
| Trial ID | NCT07339618 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
The trial applies non-drug interventions—verbal stimulation, tactile shoulder tapping, and shoulder shaking—during the emergence phase from general anesthesia for adult patients undergoing laparoscopic abdominal surgery. EEG monitoring and clinical recovery measures such as time to eye opening, extubation, and standardized recovery scores are used to track the pace and quality of emergence. Participants meeting inclusion criteria (age 18–65, ASA I–III, BMI ≤30) receive these interventions while patients with neurological disorders, significant comorbidities, or auditory impairments are excluded. The approach tests whether targeted sensory inputs can modulate neural pathways involved in restoring consciousness and improve postoperative recovery.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults 18–65 years old with ASA physical status I–III scheduled for laparoscopic gastric, colorectal, or biliary surgery who do not have neurological or auditory impairments and have BMI ≤30.
Not a fit: Patients with BMI over 30, significant neurological or psychiatric disorders, auditory device users, recent anesthesia exposure, or intracranial implants are excluded and unlikely to benefit from these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these simple non-drug techniques could shorten the time to wakefulness and lower immediate postoperative complications.
How similar studies have performed: Previous small studies and neuroscience findings suggest sensory stimulation can influence emergence patterns, but clinical evidence is limited and results have been mixed.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adult patients aged 18 to 65 years, with American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status I-III; 2. Scheduled for laparoscopic abdominal surgery, including gastric, colorectal, or biliary procedures; Exclusion Criteria: 1. ASA physical status IV; 2. Body mass index (BMI) greater than 30 kg/m²; 3. Presence of underlying neurological dysfunction, cognitive impairment, or auditory disorders; 4. Neurological, cardiovascular, hepatic, or renal dysfunction; 5. Current use of antipsychotic medications or a history of psychiatric illness; 6. History of alcohol abuse or substance dependence; 7. Exposure to general anesthesia or sedation within 1 month prior to surgery; 8. Presence of intracranial implants or a history of epilepsy; 9. Known allergy to any drugs used in this study; 10. Preoperative use of electronic hearing aids or implanted auditory devices; 11. Refusal to participate in the study.
Where this trial is running
Chengdu, Sichuan
- West China Hospital of Sichuan University — Chengdu, Sichuan, China (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Prof. Du
- Email: duguizhi@scu.edu.cn
- Phone: +86 18980602213
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.