Scientists probe Brain's 'Off Switch' under anesthesia
NCT ID NCT07644663
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study will give 120 surgery patients one of three anesthetics—propofol, dexmedetomidine, or esketamine—and use high-density EEG to measure brain activity while they are unconscious. The goal is to understand how each drug disrupts brain communication and to find markers that could help anesthesiologists monitor consciousness during surgery. Participants are healthy adults undergoing elective non-cardiac surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- propofol, dexmedetomidine, and esketamine
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could lead to better ways to monitor consciousness during surgery, helping doctors ensure patients are properly anesthetized.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-phase study focused on brain activity patterns, not on treating a disease. It may not directly change clinical practice, and results may not apply to all patients.
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
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Phase 4
Runs after approval, following long-term safety and how well the treatment works in everyday use.
- Participants
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About 120 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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Jun 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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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
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18 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery; * American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-II; * Aged 18 to 65 years, regardless of gender; * Body mass index (BMI) greater than 18 kg/m² and no more than 31 kg/m²; * Written informed consent voluntarily signed by the patient or legal authorized representative for participation in this study. Exclusion Criteria: Subjects meeting any one of the following items will be excluded from this study: * Presence of severe cardiovascular diseases or hepatic and renal insufficiency; * Hearing impairment; * History of psychiatric disorders or communication disorders; * Anticipated difficult airway; * Pregnant or lactating women; * History of allergic reaction or contraindication to any of the three anesthetic drugs used in this trial; * Participation in other clinical trials within the past 3 months.
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As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200032, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a gentler anesthesia cocktail protect a child's developing brain?
- Which monitor reads a Child's pain best during surgery?
- Propofol vs. inhaled anesthesia: which one spares your recovery?
- Which epidural technique best handles a cesarean emergency?
- Could a sleep drug shield older hearts from post-surgery delirium?
- How do countries train anesthesia residents? a global snapshot