Pupil check could slash opioid use in heart surgery
NCT ID NCT03864016
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether monitoring the pupil's reaction to light (pupillometry) can help doctors give less opioid pain medicine during heart surgery. Fifty adults having coronary artery bypass surgery took part. The goal was to see if using pupillometry to guide pain medicine doses leads to using less sufentanil (a strong opioid) while still keeping patients comfortable and stable.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
pupillometry (pupil dilation reflex monitoring)
What this could lead to
If successful, this approach could help doctors use less opioid pain medicine during heart surgery, reducing side effects and improving recovery.
What could go wrong
This is a small, single-center study with only 50 participants. The results may not apply to all heart surgeries or patients, and the technique may not work as well in routine practice.
Disclaimer
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the original study
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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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Chu Dijon Bourgogne
Dijon, 2100, France