Immersive Virtual Reality for Reducing Intraoperative Pain: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Pain Management
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Central venous (CV) port placement is an invasive procedure often associated with patient discomfort.
• Managing pain and anxiety during such procedures is crucial for patient well-being.
• Virtual reality (VR) therapy presents a potential nonpharmacological intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of virtual reality (VR) therapy in mitigating pain and anxiety.
• To assess the impact of VR therapy on patient satisfaction during central venous (CV) port placement.
• To explore VR therapy as an adjunct to conventional care for invasive procedures.

Main Methods:

• A single-center randomized controlled trial was conducted with 10 adult cancer patients.
• Participants were allocated to either a VR therapy group or a control group receiving conventional care.
• Outcomes measured included intraoperative pain, anxiety, blood loss, operative time, and patient/surgeon satisfaction.

Main Results:

• The VR group demonstrated significantly lower intraoperative pain and anxiety compared to the control group.
• Patient satisfaction was markedly higher in the VR group.
• No significant differences were observed in operative time, blood loss, or surgeon satisfaction.

Conclusions:

• Immersive VR therapy effectively reduces intraoperative pain and anxiety during central venous (CV) port placement.
• VR therapy enhances patient satisfaction, indicating its potential as a valuable nonpharmacological tool.
• These findings support the use of VR to improve patient experience during invasive oncological procedures.