Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 7, 2026
06:12
Virtual Prism Adaptation Therapy: Protocol for Validation in Healthy Adults
Published on: February 12, 2020
7.3K
Personalized virtual reality in hemodialysis patients: a multicenter pilot study
Philipp Russ1,2, Leo T Wenzel1, Simon Bedenbender1
1Marburg University, Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Clinical Kidney Journal
|January 5, 2026
Summary
Personalized virtual reality (VR) improved wellbeing and reduced pain in hemodialysis patients. This non-pharmacological intervention also showed physiological benefits, demonstrating its feasibility for routine care.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Psychology
- Medical Technology
Background:
- Hemodialysis patients often experience stress, pain, and immobility.
- Immersive virtual reality (VR) shows potential for non-pharmacological interventions.
- Previous studies lacked multicenter data on personalized VR for dialysis patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the tolerability of personalized immersive VR in hemodialysis patients.
- To evaluate the effects of a single VR session on wellbeing and pain.
- To measure physiological changes during VR exposure in dialysis patients.
Main Methods:
- A pre-post single-group pilot study involving 148 hemodialysis patients across 12 centers.
- Each participant experienced a single 20-minute personalized VR session.
- Wellbeing, pain, physiological parameters, and feasibility were assessed.
Main Results:
- Wellbeing significantly improved, and pain scores decreased by approximately 50%.
- Systolic blood pressure decreased from 135 to 128 mmHg; diastolic from 72 to 69 mmHg.
- Heart rate decreased from 72 to 67 bpm (P < .0001), with no serious adverse events.
Conclusions:
- Personalized VR is well-tolerated by hemodialysis patients.
- VR offers measurable psychological and physiological benefits.
- VR is a feasible non-pharmacological adjunct for routine dialysis care.
Keywords:
end stage renal diseasehemodialysisimmersive technologypersonalized medicinevirtual reality (VR)More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:24Hemodialysis II: Procedure and Complications
558
DialyzersA hemodialysis (HD) dialyzer is a plastic cartridge containing thousands of parallel hollow fibers, which serve as semipermeable membranes. These fibers are typically made from cellulose-based or other synthetic materials. During HD, blood is pumped into the top of the cartridge and distributed among these fibers. Simultaneously, dialysis fluid, known as dialysate, is introduced into the bottom of the cartridge, bathing the outside of the fibers. Across the semipermeable membrane,...
558
01:25Hemodialysis I: Introduction
1.2K
Hemodialysis (HD) is a medical treatment that artificially removes waste products, excess fluids, and toxins from the blood when the kidneys are no longer able to perform these functions effectively. In this process, blood is filtered through a semipermeable membrane, allowing for the selective removal of waste while preserving necessary components like blood cells and proteins. Hemodialysis is typically performed in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or severe kidney...
1.2K
01:25Hemodialysis III: Nursing Management
681
The nursing management of a patient undergoing hemodialysis includes several critical steps, starting with a thorough assessment before the procedure.Before the Hemodialysis ProcedureFirst, record the patient's vital signs—blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature—to establish a baseline. This baseline is essential for detecting conditions such as hypotension that could impact the patient's response to dialysis. Document the patient's pre-dialysis weight, as this...
681
01:15Dialysis
1.6K
Dialysis is a diffusion-based purification process that separates analyte molecules from a complex matrix. This is accomplished by allowing molecules in the solution to pass through a semipermeable membrane into a liquid on the other side. The membrane is usually made of cellulose acetate or cellulose nitrate, and the second liquid must be miscible with the solution. Ions (e.g., chloride or sodium) or organic molecules (e.g., glucose) can pass through the membrane pores, which generally have...
1.6K
01:27Dialysis
1.1K
Renal failure occurs when the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products from the blood effectively. It can be classified into two types: acute renal failure (ARF) and chronic renal failure (CRF).
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
1.1K
01:30Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy
722
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy, also known as CRRT, is a procedural treatment for acute kidney injury (AKI) that gradually removes uremic toxins and fluids while maintaining acid-base balance and stabilizing electrolytes. It is particularly useful for hemodynamically unstable patients. Unlike intermittent hemodialysis, which is faster, CRRT provides a gentler approach over 24 hours, closely mimicking the function of natural kidneys. However, CRRT is not ideal for patients with...
722