Guided Visualization Meditation for Reducing Surgical Stress Response in Cardiac Surgery Patients

Starting soon · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Cardiac Surgery, Surgical Stress Response, Coronary Artery Disease, Postoperative Stress, Anxiety

In brief

This study aims to evaluate whether guided visualization meditation can reduce the surgical stress response in patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Surgical stress response includes changes in hormones, blood glucose, and anxiety levels that occur before and after major surgery. Guided visualization meditation is a non-invasive relaxation technique that uses calming audio instructions to help patients imagine peaceful scenes and reduce stress. In this study, patients scheduled for cardiac surgery will be assigned to one of two groups: an intervention group that receives guided visualization meditation and a control group that receives standard care only. Patients in the intervention group will listen to an audio recording containing guided visualization and calming background music through headphones. Sessions will be provided twice on the day before surgery, twice on the day of surgery, and twice on the first postoperative day. To evaluate the effects of the intervention, blood samples will be collected to measure cortisol, glucose, and insulin levels. Anxiety levels will be assessed using the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-I and STAI-II), and pain will be measured using a visual pain scale. These measurements will be performed at three specific time points: one day before surgery, six hours after extubation, and one day post-surgery. The goal of this research is to determine whether guided visualization meditation can help reduce stress-related physiological and psychological changes in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. If effective, this method may offer a simple, safe, and supportive strategy to improve recovery and overall patient well-being.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07379944

Run by

University of Gaziantep

People needed

72

Starts

2026-01-15

Expected to finish

2027-03-31

Last updated by the study team

2026-02-02

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adults aged 18 years or older
• Scheduled to undergo open-heart surgery
• ASA physical status I-II
• First-time cardiac surgery
• On-pump, median sternotomy technique planned
• Mild to moderate intraoperative hypothermia protocol
• No diagnosed psychiatric disorder
• Not using psychotropic medications
• No endocrine disorders affecting cortisol (e.g., Addison's disease, Cushing's syndrome)
• Not taking corticosteroid medications
• Glasgow Coma Score = 15 postoperatively
• No perioperative complications that may interfere with participation
• Able and willing to provide informed consent

You may not qualify if…

• Prolonged or complicated surgery
• Withdrawal of consent at any stage
• Postoperative altered consciousness (GCS < 15)
• Perioperative administration of corticosteroids
• Severe intraoperative complications
• Surgery cancelled or rescheduled
• Hearing impairment preventing participation in auditory intervention
• Any condition clinically judged by the investigator to interfere with study participation

Where it is running

• Gaziantep University — Gaziantep, Şehitkamil, Turkey (Türkiye)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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