Laughing gas may help kids forget surgery, study hints
NCT ID NCT02050152
First seen Jun 30, 2026 · Last updated Jul 01, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looks at whether different amounts of nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can make children forget things that happen just before surgery. Healthy children aged 6 to 12 having elective surgery will breathe either a placebo or one of two concentrations of nitrous oxide. After surgery, researchers will test if they remember a joke, a photo, or a bad smell from when they were awake. The goal is to find out if nitrous oxide can be used to intentionally cause temporary memory loss for medical procedures.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
Nitrous oxide
What this could lead to
If successful, this could help doctors understand how to use nitrous oxide to reduce children's memory of unpleasant medical procedures.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-stage study in healthy children, so results may not apply to all patients or situations. The effects on memory may be subtle or vary widely.
Disclaimer
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Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, 14222-2006, United States