The Impact of Preoperative Positive Suggestions on Dreaming With Intravenous Sedation: A Randomized Controlled, Blinded Trial
Authors' conclusion
Preoperative suggestions did not increase DIDR frequency or alter dream content but improved dream pleasantness, indicating potential psychological benefits during sedation.
Study context
- Population
- Adults (ASA I–III) aged 20 to 65 undergoing elective upper extremity surgery with sedation via brachial plexus block
- Participants
- 188 adults
- Comparison
- Preoperative positive suggestions vs none, during sedation with propofol or ketamine
- Propofol with suggestions (P-S)n = 47
- P-NSn = 47reference
- Ketamine with suggestions (K-S)n = 47
- K-NSn = 47
- Primary endpoint
- Drug-induced dream recall (DIDR) frequency (binary: yes/no)
Methodological detailsprospective, double-blinded, 2 × 2 factorial, single-centre, Single tertiary university hospital, South Korea, September 2024 to January 2025, Suggestion intervention: 8 pleasant dream scenarios preoperatively
- Prospective
- Double-blinded
- 2 × 2 factorial
- Single-centre
- Single tertiary university hospital, South Korea, September 2024 to January 2025
- Suggestion intervention: 8 pleasant dream scenarios preoperatively
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
DIDR frequency
Odds ratio (95% CI)P value
Ketamine vs Propofolmain effect of drug type (factorial analysis)
2.14(1.23–3.72)
P = 0.007Suggestions vs No suggestionsmain effect of suggestions (factorial analysis)
1.16(0.67–2.01)
P = 0.598Secondary outcomes
Emotional intensity and dream strangeness
- Ketamine increased emotional intensity vs propofol (P = .0071 vs P-NS; P = .003 vs P-S)
- Ketamine increased dream strangeness vs propofol (P = .0071 vs P-NS; P = .0071 vs P-S)
Dream pleasantness
- Suggestions enhanced dream pleasantness in both drug groups (P = .002 vs P-NS; P = .001 vs K-NS; P = .0071 vs K-S)
Original publication
The Impact of Preoperative Positive Suggestions on Dreaming With Intravenous Sedation: A Randomized Controlled, Blinded Trial. Anesth Analg. Published 24 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →