Can a painkiller shield older hearts from Post-Surgery confusion?

NCT ID NCT07768150

NEW Not yet recruiting Prevention Sponsor: Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Fuwai Hospital Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Aug 17, 2026 · Last updated Aug 17, 2026

Summary

This trial asks whether giving the painkiller dezocine before and after heart surgery can reduce the chance of postoperative delirium—a state of confusion that commonly affects older patients after cardiac procedures. Researchers plan to enroll 640 adults aged 65 and older who are scheduled for heart surgery using a heart-lung machine. Half will receive dezocine, and half will receive a placebo (saline), with the main goal of comparing how many in each group develop delirium within a week after surgery.

What this could mean

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

Active substance: dezocine (an opioid painkiller) given intravenously before and after heart surgery
What this could lead to: If effective, dezocine could become a simple preventive treatment to lower the risk of confusion and delirium after heart surgery in older adults.
What could go wrong: This is an early-stage trial, and the results may not show a clear benefit. Dezocine, like other opioids, can have side effects such as drowsiness or nausea.

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

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Emergence Delirium

As listed by the trial registrant

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

POSTOPERATIVE DELIRIUM (POD)

Contacts and locations

Locations

Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, 100037, China
Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences

Beijing, China

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