2026 · Ji et al. — The Impact of Perioperative Hydrogen Gas Inhalation on Postoperative Recovery in Day Surgery Patients: A Research Study
Super-Abstract
In 150 day-surgery patients having laparoscopic gallbladder removal or thyroid surgery, inhaling a hydrogen-oxygen mixture before and after the operation led to a smaller drop in recovery quality scores than a nitrogen-oxygen mixture (QoR-15 decline 9 compared with 14 points, p = 0.008). Plasma inflammatory markers such as IL-6 and IL-12 were lower in the hydrogen group. Adverse events were less frequent (14.47% compared with 24.32%), but this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.127). (Scientific Reports, 2026.)
Commentary
Hydrogen has shown anti-inflammatory effects in various clinical settings, and this trial asked whether it improves recovery after day surgery. The prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial was run at a day surgery centre in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy or thyroidectomy. Of the 150 enrolled patients, 76 received a hydrogen-oxygen mixture containing 66.7% hydrogen and 74 received a nitrogen-oxygen mixture containing 66.7% nitrogen, both through a nasal cannula before and after surgery. The abstract does not state how long or at what flow the gas was given. Recovery quality was measured with the QoR-15 questionnaire and reported as the decline in score. The abstract does not say when it was measured and does not explicitly label it as the primary endpoint. Exploratory outcomes were pain, physical independence and sleep quality. Plasma inflammatory markers, including IL-6 and IL-12, and adverse events were also recorded.
Key quotes
- „Compared with the control group, the hydrogen group demonstrated significantly better postoperative recovery quality, as reflected by a smaller reduction in QoR-15 scores (9 ± 12 vs. 14 ± 13, p = 0.008).“ — the main result on recovery quality after surgery
- „Furthermore, the hydrogen group exhibited reduced plasma levels of inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6 and IL-12) and a trend toward a lower incidence of adverse events (14.47% vs. 24.32%, p = 0.127).“ — inflammation markers and a non-significant difference in adverse events
- „These findings suggest that perioperative hydrogen inhalation may alleviate inflammatory stress and promote recovery in patients undergoing day surgery.“ — the authors' conclusion, phrased as a suggestion
Our assessment
The trial is double-blind, enrolled 150 patients and used a control gas in which nitrogen replaced hydrogen. Recovery quality on the QoR-15 declined less with hydrogen (p = 0.008). The mean decline was 9 compared with 14 points, with wide standard deviations of 12 and 13 points, and the abstract does not discuss whether this difference is clinically meaningful. Limitations: one day surgery centre and two types of operation. The abstract does not explicitly name a primary endpoint, the inhalation time or the time point of the QoR-15 measurement. The inflammatory marker results are given without numbers or p-values, and the exploratory outcomes appear only as descriptive trends. The lower adverse event rate was not statistically significant. In this sample the results suggest better recovery quality, which other centres and operations would need to confirm.
Study design
- Type: prospective, double-blind, randomised controlled trial at a day surgery centre · n: 150 (76 hydrogen, 74 control) · H₂ delivery: hydrogen-oxygen mixture with 66.7% hydrogen by nasal cannula before and after surgery, duration not given
- Comparator: nitrogen-oxygen mixture with 66.7% nitrogen, same route
- Result: QoR-15 decline 9 ± 12 vs. 14 ± 13 points (p = 0.008). Plasma IL-6 and IL-12 lower in the hydrogen group (no figures in the abstract). Adverse events 14.47% vs. 24.32% (p = 0.127, not significant). Pain, physical independence and sleep: descriptive trends only
Abstract
Hydrogen has been demonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory effects in various clinical settings. This prospective, double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted at a day surgery center to evaluate whether perioperative hydrogen inhalation improves recovery outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy or thyroidectomy. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either a hydrogen-oxygen mixture (containing 66.7% hydrogen) or a nitrogen-oxygen mixture (containing 66.7% nitrogen) via nasal cannula before and after surgery. A total of 150 patients were enrolled, with 76 in the hydrogen group and 74 in the control group. Compared with the control group, the hydrogen group demonstrated significantly better postoperative recovery quality, as reflected by a smaller reduction in QoR-15 scores (9 ± 12 vs. 14 ± 13, p = 0.008). In exploratory analyses, the hydrogen group also showed descriptive trends toward lower pain scores, greater physical independence, and improved sleep quality. Furthermore, the hydrogen group exhibited reduced plasma levels of inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-6 and IL-12) and a trend toward a lower incidence of adverse events (14.47% vs. 24.32%, p = 0.127). These findings suggest that perioperative hydrogen inhalation may alleviate inflammatory stress and promote recovery in patients undergoing day surgery.
Source & links
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