Deep breaths may slash post-surgery pain and anxiety — a trial puts it to the test

NCT ID NCT06546514

Symptom relief Sponsor: Ataturk University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 23, 2026 · Last updated Jul 24, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This trial tests whether a simple breathing exercise routine can help people recovering from general surgery feel less pain, anxiety, and nausea. About 149 adults who had laparoscopic gallbladder or hernia repair will either receive standard care or practice deep breathing exercises 5 times a day for 30 days after their operation. Researchers will measure anxiety, pain levels, and nausea-vomiting using standard questionnaires to see if this drug-free approach makes recovery smoother.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance: breathing exercise training (5 repetitions of 10 deep breaths every 3 hours from 9am to 9pm, starting one day before surgery and continuing for 30 days after)
What this could lead to: If effective, this simple, drug-free technique could become a standard part of post-surgery care to help patients feel less pain and anxiety and experience less nausea.
What could go wrong: This is a single-center trial with a specific breathing schedule, so results may not apply to all surgeries or patients. The benefit may be small or no different from usual care.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

149 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Nov 2021

Finished

Aug 2024

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

18 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * 18 years and over, * Having undergone general surgery with general anaesthesia. * They do not have physical/mental disabilities, * Limitations and diseases that would prevent them from breathing exercises (such as the use of drugs that affect breathing and requiring oxygen therapy, etc.) * Cognitive level scales are suitable for application; Patients with video phones and no communication problems were included in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Postoperative hemodynamic values unstable, * Developing any complication, such as severe bleeding, nausea, vomiting after surgery, * Leaving work voluntarily, * Patients with acute or chronic lung disease were not included in the study.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

anxiety disorder Pain, Postoperative Postoperative Nausea and Vomiting

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Patient relations, nurse Postoperative nausea and vomiting Postoperative pain, acute

Deep breaths may slash post-surgery pain and anxiety — a trial puts it to the test

What the study statuses mean