Hypnosis on your smartphone to reduce postoperative pain after appendicitis with peritonitis

Benefit of Hypnosis on Smartphone for Acute Post-operative Pain

Not applicable Interventional Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice · NCT05854914

This project tests whether short hypnosis videos on a smartphone can help adults reduce pain and anxiety after emergency laparoscopic surgery for appendicitis with generalized peritonitis.

Quick facts

PhaseNot applicable
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment20 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice Academic / other
Locations1 site (Nice)
Trial IDNCT05854914 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

Adults with complicated acute appendicitis and generalized peritonitis who undergo emergency laparoscopic appendectomy at Nice University Hospital will be enrolled. Participants who have a smartphone will view hypnosis videos delivered via their phone during the perioperative period in addition to the center's standard pain management protocols. The study will measure immediate postoperative pain levels, anxiety, opioid and analgesic consumption, and length of hospital stay. Patients with exclusion conditions or who cannot use video on a smartphone will not be included.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Adults (18+) with complicated acute appendicitis presenting with generalized peritonitis who understand French, have a smartphone with internet access, and can give informed consent are ideal candidates.

Not a fit: Patients with intraperitoneal abscess or plastron, sensory or neurological impairments preventing video use, active cancer or immunosuppression, those treated after interval appendectomy, or those without a smartphone or French language ability are unlikely to benefit.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, smartphone-delivered hypnosis could reduce acute postoperative pain and anxiety, lower opioid use, and shorten hospital stays for these patients.

How similar studies have performed: Hypnosis has shown benefit for perioperative pain and anxiety in prior studies, but delivering hypnosis via smartphone for acute post-appendectomy peritonitis is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients aged 18 years and over
* Complicated acute appendicitis with generalized appendicitis, coelioscopy emergency surgery
* Signature of the written informed consent form by the patient
* Affiliation to a French health insurance scheme or equivalent
* Patient inderstands French and has a smartphone with internet access

Non inclusion Criteria:

* Uncomplicated or complicated appendicitis of abscesses, presence of an intraperitoneal abscess, a plastron, uncomplicated appendicitis of generalized peritonitis
* Patient with a neurological, visual or auditory condition where videos cannot be viewed
* Presence of active cancer, a malignant hemopathy, drug addiction, coagulopathy, immunosuppressive treatment
* Non-acute or interval appendectomy, i.e. after antibiotic treatment of a complicated appendicitis of the plastron or drainage of an appendicular abscess;
* Vulnerable people: adult under guardianship, curator ship or deprived of freedom.
* Medication or pathology affecting ability to discern: Severe psychotic disorders
* Patient refusing to monitor anxiety and pain via smartphone
* Patient already medically monitored for anxiety, depressive or chronic pain syndrome

Where this trial is running

Nice

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Appendicitis With Peritonitis
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.