Extended reality in anesthesia: a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Medical Technology
• Anesthesiology
• Extended Reality (XR)

Background:

• Extended reality (XR) technology is increasingly adopted in medicine, including anesthesiology.
• Current literature on XR in anesthesia is expanding, necessitating a review for practitioners.
• XR offers novel approaches for both medical education and clinical patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current literature on XR utilization in anesthesia.
• To guide anesthesiologists in adopting XR for educational and clinical applications.
• To highlight the benefits and challenges of XR in anesthesiology.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of XR applications in anesthesia.
• Analysis of XR's role in knowledge acquisition and skill training.
• Examination of XR's use in patient education, anxiety reduction, and distraction.

Main Results:

• XR facilitates harm reduction via immersive simulation for practicing technical and non-technical skills.
• XR improves patient familiarity with procedures, reduces anxiety, and can decrease opioid use.
• Challenges include limited financial reimbursement and technical accessibility.

Conclusions:

• XR technology holds significant potential for widespread adoption in anesthesia.
• Further research and technological advancements are crucial for overcoming current limitations.
• XR can enhance both anesthesiologist training and patient experience.