A simple probe may reveal the perfect moment to wake up from anesthesia
NCT ID NCT02661386
First seen Aug 20, 2026 · Last updated Aug 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study explores whether a device that measures swallowing and esophageal muscle activity can help doctors know when it's safe to remove a breathing tube after general anesthesia. The trial involves adults undergoing routine abdominal surgery with a breathing tube. Researchers will monitor the return of normal swallowing function as anesthesia wears off, comparing it to standard signs used by anesthesia staff. The goal is to see if this objective measure could improve safety and timing of tube removal.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Esophageal manometry device
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide a more precise way to determine when it's safe to remove a breathing tube after surgery, potentially reducing complications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small pilot study, so results may not be conclusive. The technique may not reliably predict safe tube removal in all patients, and more research would be needed.
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
-
32 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2016
- Finished
-
Mar 2019
- 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 to 70 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide 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: * Patients between 18 and 70 years of age (ASA I or II). * Already scheduled for routine general anesthetic procedure requiring an endotracheal tube for anesthesia administration. * Scheduled abdominal surgical procedure including endoscopy, colonoscopy, ERCP, cholecystectomy, appendectomy, colectomy or small bowel resection. * Willing and able to give informed consent in either English or Spanish. Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant, breastfeeding, or unwilling to practice birth control during participation in the study. * Presence of a condition or abnormality that in the opinion of the Investigator would compromise the safety of the patient or the quality of the data. * Patients not meeting entry criteria above. * Refusal to give informed consent. * Coagulopathy (INR \> 2 and/or platelet count \< 100,000. * White Blood Cell count \< 5,000/mm3 * Arrhythmia * Serum creatinine \> 2 mg/dl * Prior known or suspected nasal obstruction. * Known or suspected Zenker's diverticulum of esophagus, esophageal stricture, head/neck radiation therapy, hereditary telangiectasis, esophageal varices, cirrhosis. * Anticoagulant usage such as heparin or Plavix
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Motility function are added.
By submitting, you agree to our Terms of use
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
San Francisco, California, 94110, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.