Bright green light to help recovery after laparoscopic or robotic surgery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

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.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

• 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

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

• Imaging Mitochondrial Complex-I and Brain Metabolism in Alcohol Use Disorder

  This study tests whether PET imaging with [18F]BCPP-EF and [18F]FDG can reveal differences in brain energy use between adults with alcohol use disorder and healthy controls, and whether these measures relate to relapse risk.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07825818

• Imaging Brain Mitochondrial Complex-I in Cocaine Use Disorder

  This study uses a PET scan with [F-18]BCPP-EF to see how mitochondrial Complex-I activity in the brain differs between people with cocaine use disorder and healthy controls.

  Recruiting Early Phase 1 University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07773649

• Managing nighttime voiding in older women with sleep strategies

  This study tests whether brief behavioral sleep therapy and mindfulness, alone or together, reduce how often older women wake at night to urinate and how much urine they produce at night.

  Recruiting University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07760779

• Personalized pain relief for knee OA using central nervous system-based duloxetine

  This study tests whether duloxetine can improve walking and daily activity in people with knee osteoarthritis by comparing it to a placebo.

  Recruiting Phase 4 University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania · NCT07759336

• Which antibiotic works best for kids with sinus infections?

  This study tests whether amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, or a placebo help children with acute sinusitis feel better faster.

  Recruiting Phase 4 University of Pittsburgh · Denver, Colorado and 4 other locations · NCT07732699

• Comparing Antibiotics and Placebo for Ear Infections in Toddlers

  This trial tests whether amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, or a placebo help reduce symptoms in children with acute otitis media.

  Recruiting Phase 4 University of Pittsburgh · Denver, Colorado and 4 other locations · NCT07730814

How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.