Hypnosis for Postoperative Pain Management After Colectomies: A Single-Center Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial.
Ana-Maria Toth, Paul Mackey, Stefano Di Donato et al.
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In 30 seconds
This single-center randomized controlled feasibility trial assessed perioperative hypnosis as an adjunct to standard care in 41 adults undergoing elective colectomy. Feasibility outcomes were a 58% recruitment rate (41/71 eligible patients), 90% retention, and 92.5% intervention adherence. Pain scores in the hypnosis group fell after sessions, and the between-group comparison at 24 hours favored hypnosis: median pain was 5.0 vs 6.0 (median difference -1.2; 95% CI, -2.3 to -0.1). The findings provide preliminary signals of potential benefit, but the trial was designed to assess feasibility rather than establish efficacy.
Key findings
- Recruitment was 58% (41/71 eligible patients), with 90% retention and 92.5% adherence to the hypnosis intervention.
- At 24 hours, median pain was 5.0 vs 6.0 for hypnosis plus standard care versus standard care (median difference -1.2; 95% CI, -2.3 to -0.1).
- Within the hypnosis group, median pain decreased from 5.0 to 2.5 at 24 hours after surgery (median difference -2.0; 95% CI, -2.5 to -1.0).
- On day 3, median pain in the hypnosis group decreased from 4.0 to 1.5 (median difference -2.5; 95% CI, -3.0 to -1.5).
Why it matters
Postoperative pain remains a challenge after colectomy, and this trial suggests that perioperative hypnosis can be delivered with high adherence in an acute surgical setting. The pain findings are encouraging but preliminary: a feasibility trial cannot determine whether hypnosis reliably improves pain or other recovery outcomes. The results support evaluating the intervention in a definitive trial.
What to keep in mind
The single-center design limits generalizability; participant and staff blinding was unfeasible, and hypnotizability was not assessed.