Bright green light to help recovery after laparoscopic or robotic surgery
Green Light Therapy to Reduce Pain and Promote Wellness After Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Adult Post-Operative Patients
This will test whether bright green light used after laparoscopic or robotic surgery helps adults have less pain, use fewer opioids, and sleep and feel better during recovery.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 60 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Pittsburgh Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) |
| Trial ID | NCT07218289 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults scheduled for laparoscopic or robotic surgery at UPMC Shadyside who expect at least a 48-hour hospital stay are randomized in an unblinded, parallel-group design to receive either bright green light therapy or dim white (ambient) light after surgery. The primary outcome is postoperative pain intensity, with secondary outcomes including opioid consumption, sleep quality, mood, and overall recovery measures. Light therapy is delivered during the inpatient postoperative period and participants complete surveys and medication-use logs to capture outcomes. Key exclusions include pregnancy, significant ocular or neurological disease, history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, and prior splenectomy.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults (≥18) undergoing planned laparoscopic or robotic surgery at UPMC Shadyside with an expected postoperative stay of at least 48 hours who can read and speak English and provide informed consent.
Not a fit: Patients who are pregnant, have significant eye disease, major neurological disorders, a history of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, or prior splenectomy are excluded and would not be expected to receive benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If effective, bright green light could reduce postoperative pain and opioid needs while improving sleep, mood, and overall recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Previous light therapy studies have improved mood, sleep, and some types of pain, but using bright green light specifically for post-operative analgesia is a novel approach with limited prior testing.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age \>/= 18 years * Planned to undergo laparoscopic or robotic surgery at UPMC Shadyside Hospital * Anticipated post-operative length of stay \>/= 48 hours * Able to speak and read English fluently, with the capacity to provide informed consent and complete the associated surveys independently Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnancy * History of significant ocular issues/dysfunction (†‡ ) (e.g., glaucoma, ocular trauma, macular degeneration, cataracts) that would interfere with the ocular mechanism of action * History of significant neurological disease (‡) (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, neurodegenerative disease) that would compromise the reliability of pain screening and/or interfere with the central mechanism of action * History of bipolar disorder or schizophrenia, which could increase the risk of an adverse reaction to light exposure (i.e., acute mania) * History of splenectomy, which would interfere with the mechanism of action * Ocular issues corrected with contact lenses or spectacle corrective eyeglasses will NOT be considered a criterion for exclusion ‡Unclear cases will be at the discretion of the PI
Where this trial is running
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- UPMC Shadyside Hospital — Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rebecca Kotcher, MD — University of Pittsburgh, UPMC
- Study coordinator: Amy Monroe, MPH, MBA
- Email: monroeal@upmc.edu
- Phone: 412-623-6382
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.