SynthesisBMC anesthesiology2016
Efficacy of therapeutic suggestions under general anesthesia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in BMC anesthesiology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 29 citations in OpenAlex.
- Increasing handgrip strength via post-hypnotic suggestions with lasting effects.Scientific reports · 2024Trial
- Intraoperative suggestions to prevent postoperative delirium in patients undergoing transaortic valvular replacement: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.Aging clinical and experimental research · 2023Trial
- Effect of therapeutic suggestions during general anaesthesia on postoperative pain and opioid use: multicentre randomised controlled trial.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2020Trial
- Operating Room Professionals' Awareness of Possible Unconscious Auditory Perception During General Anesthesia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study.Anesthesiology research and practice · 2026Article
- [Words like medicine-Therapeutic communication in anesthesia].Die Anaesthesiologie · 2025Review
- Hypnosis support in anaesthesia is rarely used in German anaesthesia departments - a nationwide survey among leading physicians of anaesthesia departments.BMC anesthesiology · 2024Article
- Touching the unconscious in the unconscious - hypnotic communication with unconscious patients.Frontiers in psychology · 2024Review
- Therapeutic Suggestions During General Anesthesia Reduce Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting in High-Risk Patients - AFrontiers in psychology · 2022Article
- Nocebo Effects and Negative Suggestions in Daily Clinical Practice - Forms, Impact and Approaches to Avoid Them.Frontiers in pharmacology · 2019Review
- Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
5 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundGeneral anesthesia does not block central nervous processing of auditive information. Therefore, positive suggestions even given during surgery might have the potential to encourage well-being and recovery of patients. Aim of this review was to summarize the evidence on the efficacy of therapeutic suggestions under general anesthesia in adults undergoing surgery compared to an attention control (i.e. white noise).
methodsWe included randomized controlled trials that investigated therapeutic suggestions presented during general anesthesia to adult patients undergoing surgery or medical procedures. Outcomes on pain intensity, mental distress, recovery, use of medication, measured postoperatively within hospitalization were considered. Electronic searches were carried out in the following databases (last search February 23, 2015): MEDLINE, CENTRAL, Web of Science, PsycINFO, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses.
resultsThirty-two eligible randomized controlled trials were included, comprising a total of 2102 patients. All studies used taped suggestions. Random effects meta-analyses revealed no effects on pain intensity (Hedges' g = 0.04, CI 95% [-0.04; 0.12], number needed to treat [NNT] = 44.3) and mental distress (g = 0.03, CI 95% [-0.11; 0.16], NNT = 68.2). In contrast, we found small but significant positive effects on use of medication (g = 0.19, CI 95% [0.09; 0.29], NNT = 9.2) and on recovery (g = 0.14, CI 95% [0.03; 0.25], NNT = 13.0). All effects were homogeneous and robust.
conclusionsEven though effects were small, our results provide indications that intraoperative suggestions can have the potential to reduce the need for medication and enhance recovery. Further high quality trials are needed to strengthen the promising evidence on the efficacy of therapeutic suggestions under general anesthesia for patients undergoing surgery.
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