Lighter anesthesia may shield seniors from Post-Surgery confusion
NCT ID NCT06268080
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study compares light versus deep general anesthesia in older adults (65+ or Indigenous 55+) having major surgery. The goal is to see if lighter anesthesia reduces delirium—sudden confusion—and long-term memory problems. About 2,766 participants will be randomly assigned to one of two anesthesia levels, guided by a brain monitor. If effective, this simple change could help millions of seniors stay mentally sharp after surgery.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 2,766 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2028
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government agency
The lead sponsor is a government body.
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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55 years and older
- 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patients aged ≥ 65 years, and Māori, Pacific or Indigenous participants aged ≥ 55 years who are undergoing major elective or non-elective surgery with expected surgical duration ≥ 2 hours and postoperative hospital stay ≥ 2 nights. * Having general anesthesia using total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with pEEG monitoring * Able to provide informed consent (including patients with mild preoperative neurocognitive disorders) Exclusion Criteria: * Intracranial or cardiac surgery * Undergoing surgery with 'wake up' test * Previous enrollment in Balanced-2 study * Terminal illness with expected survival \<3 months * Emergency surgery within 6 hours of presentation to hospital * Cognitive impairment with no capacity to consent or activated enduring power of attorney * Clinically impaired and unable to consent due to acute pathology or preoperative delirium
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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.
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
3 sites. 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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Auckland City Hospital, Health New Zealand
RECRUITINGGrafton, Auckland, 1024, New Zealand
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Christchurch Hospital
RECRUITINGChristchurch, South Island, 4710, New Zealand
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North Shore Hospital
NOT_YET_RECRUITINGAuckland, North Island, 0622, New Zealand
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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