Hypnosis for Postoperative Pain Management After Colectomies: A Single-Centre Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial
- 1School of Health Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, United Kingdom
- 2Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, Taunton, United Kingdom
- 3Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom
Abstract
Background: Postoperative pain management after colectomy remains challenging, with opioid-related complications impacting recovery. This study evaluates the feasibility of implementing clinical hypnosis as an adjunctive intervention.
Objective: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial investigating hypnosis for post-colectomy pain management.
Design: Single-centre randomized controlled feasibility trial.
Setting: District general hospital in South-West England (July 2023–February 2024).
Patients: Forty-one adults undergoing elective colectomy.
Interventions: Participants were randomized to standard care or standard care plus three perioperative hypnosis sessions (preoperatively, first and third day post-surgery).
Main Outcome Measures: Primary: recruitment rates, retention, and intervention adherence. Secondary: pain scores (Numeric Pain Scale), analgesic requirements, and complications.
Results: Recruitment achieved 58% (41/71 eligible patients), with 90% retention and 92.5% intervention adherence. The hypnosis group demonstrated pain reductions approximating the minimum clinically important difference, providing signals of potential clinical benefit following sessions: at 24 hours post-surgery, median pain decreased from 5.0 to 2.5 (median difference -2.0, 95% confidence interval -2.5 to -1.0), and at Day 3, from 4.0 to 1.5 (median difference -2.5, 95% confidence interval -3.0 to -1.5). Between-group comparisons showed lower pain in the hypnosis group at 24 hours (median 5.0 vs 6.0, median difference -1.2, 95% confidence interval -2.3 to -0.1).
Limitations: Single-centre design limits generalizability; participant and staff blinding was unfeasible; hypnotisability was not assessed.
Conclusions: Hypnosis is feasible in acute surgical settings, with trends supporting pain reduction and positive patient experiences. A definitive trial is warranted to determine efficacy for post-colectomy pain management.
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BibTeX
@article{toth2026hypnosis,
title = {{Hypnosis for Postoperative Pain Management After Colectomies: A Single-Centre Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial}},
author = {Ana-Maria Toth and Paul Mackey and Stefano Di Donato and Begonya Alcacer-Pitarch},
journal = {Diseases of the colon and rectum},
year = {2026},
month = aug,
doi = {10.1097/dcr.0000000000004384},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/dcr.0000000000004384},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Hypnosis for Postoperative Pain Management After Colectomies: A Single-Centre Randomized Controlled Feasibility Trial
AU - Ana-Maria Toth
AU - Paul Mackey
AU - Stefano Di Donato
AU - Begonya Alcacer-Pitarch
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/08/27
JO - Diseases of the colon and rectum
DO - 10.1097/dcr.0000000000004384
UR - https://doi.org/10.1097/dcr.0000000000004384
AB - Background: Postoperative pain management after colectomy remains challenging, with opioid-related complications impacting recovery. This study evaluates the feasibility of implementing clinical hypnosis as an adjunctive intervention. Objective: To determine the feasibility of conducting a full-scale randomized controlled trial investigating hypnosis for post-colectomy pain management. Design: Single-centre randomized controlled feasibility trial. Setting: District general hospital in South-West England (July 2023–February 2024). Patients: Forty-one adults undergoing elective colectomy. Interventions: Participants were randomized to standard care or standard care plus three perioperative hypnosis sessions (preoperatively, first and third day post-surgery). Main Outcome Measures: Primary: recruitment rates, retention, and intervention adherence. Secondary: pain scores (Numeric Pain Scale), analgesic requirements, and complications. Results: Recruitment achieved 58% (41/71 eligible patients), with 90% retention and 92.5% intervention adherence. The hypnosis group demonstrated pain reductions approximating the minimum clinically important difference, providing signals of potential clinical benefit following sessions: at 24 hours post-surgery, median pain decreased from 5.0 to 2.5 (median difference -2.0, 95% confidence interval -2.5 to -1.0), and at Day 3, from 4.0 to 1.5 (median difference -2.5, 95% confidence interval -3.0 to -1.5). Between-group comparisons showed lower pain in the hypnosis group at 24 hours (median 5.0 vs 6.0, median difference -1.2, 95% confidence interval -2.3 to -0.1). Limitations: Single-centre design limits generalizability; participant and staff blinding was unfeasible; hypnotisability was not assessed. Conclusions: Hypnosis is feasible in acute surgical settings, with trends supporting pain reduction and positive patient experiences. A definitive trial is warranted to determine efficacy for post-colectomy pain management.
SN - 0012-3706
SN - 1530-0358
ER -