New study tests if your heart and eyes reveal hidden surgery nerves
NCT ID NCT04154410
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study looked at whether heart rate variability and pupil reflexes can objectively measure anxiety before surgery. Researchers monitored 71 day-case surgery patients using a finger sensor and a portable pupilometer before, during, and after a small needle insertion. The goal was to see if these physical signs could reliably tell anxious from non-anxious patients, potentially offering a more accurate way to assess pre-operative anxiety.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to a simple, objective way to measure anxiety before surgery without relying on patient self-reports.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small observational study with only 71 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The measures may not be accurate enough to replace standard anxiety assessments.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Cochin Hospital, APHP
Paris, France, 75014, France