Electric head zap may ease pain after sleep apnea surgery
NCT ID NCT03735004
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a mild electrical current applied to the head (called transcranial electrostimulation, or TES) can help control pain after major sleep apnea surgery. 45 patients received TES along with standard care. The goal was to see if TES reduces pain and the need for opioid painkillers, which can be risky for sleep apnea patients.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcranial electrostimulation (TES) device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a drug-free way to manage pain after sleep apnea surgery, reducing reliance on opioids.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed study with only 45 participants. Results may not apply to everyone, and the effect may be modest.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Stanford Univeristy Medical Center
Stanford, California, 94305, United States
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