An Extension Study Using Hypnotic Suggestion as an Adjunct to Intravenous Sedation.

The effects of hypnosis/therapeutic suggestion in connection with intravenous sedation and surgery have been described in many clinical publications; however, few randomized, controlled, and blind studies have been performed in the outpatient area. The original study published in 2010 aimed to evaluate the use of hypnosis/therapeutic suggestion as an adjunct to intravenous sedation in patients having third molar removal in an outpatient setting. The patients were randomly assigned to a treatment or control group. The treatment group listened to a rapid conversational induction and therapeutic suggestions via headphones throughout the entire surgical procedure along with a standard sedation dose of intravenous anesthetic. The control group received intravenous anesthesia but listened to only music without any hypnotic intervention. The current replication study addressed several of the limitations of the original. Sample size was increased and selection of participants from a different geographic area in Pennsylvania. Intra-operative propofol administration, patient post-operative pain ratings, and post-operative prescription pain reliever consumption were all significantly reduced in the treatment compared to the control group. Implications of these results are discussed.