Hypnosis associated with local anesthesia versus local anesthesia alone during bone marrow biopsy: a randomized, controlled, multicenter study, QUALHYBOM
In brief
Hypnosis with local anesthesia raises comfort to 9 and cuts EMONO use to 3%
In a multicenter trial of 180 bone-marrow biopsy patients, adding hypnosis to standard local anesthesia lifted median comfort scores from 5 to 9 and halved pain scores, while the need for supplemental nitrous-oxide fell from 29% to 3%. The results suggest hypnosis can markedly improve patient and operator experience, though broader implementation and training requirements remain to be explored.
- Journal
- Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer (Q1)
- Published
- 22 July 2026
- Study design
- Randomized controlled trial
- Evidence level
- Level 1, High (CEBM 1b)
- Authors
- Magali Granger, Emmanuel Gyan, Marlene Ochmann, Brieuc Cherel, Cecile Lermenier, Aline Moignet, et al.
- PMID
- 42484702
- DOI
- 10.1007/s00520-026-11005-1
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Pathology and Forensic Medicine (top studies of the week, 26 July 2026).
- Picked for Hematology (paper of the day, 23 July 2026): Recent Hematology research from a high-quartile journal.
- Picked for Rehabilitation (paper of the day, 23 July 2026).
Abstract
PURPOSE: Bone marrow biopsy (BMB) is a common procedure for the diagnosis, staging, and evaluation of several hematological diseases. BMB often causes anxiety and pain even when local anesthesia (LA), premedication, or an equimolar mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide (EMONO) are used. Hypnosis has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological method to reduce anxiety and pain during invasive procedures. QUALHYBOM, a prospective, multicenter, randomized, open-label study was conducted to assess whether adding hypnosis to LA (LA + H) could improve patient comfort during BMB compared to LA alone. METHOD: QUALHYBOM included 180 BMB-naive patients with suspected or confirmed hematological disorders, randomized (LA group n = 91, LA + H group n = 89) from June 2023 to November 2024 across four French hematological departments. The primary endpoint was patient comfort rated on a scale from 0 (no comfort) to 10 (maximum comfort), evaluated immediately after the procedure. Secondary outcomes included pain, anxiety (before and after BMB), practitioner comfort, and use of EMONO. RESULTS: Patient groups were well-matched at enrolment. Median comfort scores were 9 vs. 5, pain scores 2 vs.6, and post-procedure scores 1 vs.5, in the LA + H vs.LA groups, respectively, both with p < 10⁻4. Finally, the operator comfort was higher (10 vs. 7), and EMONO requirement lower (3% vs. 29%) in the LA + H group, both with p < 10⁻4. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that hypnosis significantly enhances patient comfort and key procedural parameters during BMB, warranting its consideration as addition to local anesthesia. Its integration into clinical practice may reduce the need for supplementary pharmacological interventions, including EMONO. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT05178849.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.