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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2024 Mar;134(3):1197-1202.
doi: 10.1002/lary.30967. Epub 2023 Aug 14.

Use of Perioperative Virtual Reality Experiences on Anxiety and Pain: A Randomized Comparative Trial

Vivek C Pandrangi  1 , Garren Low  1 , Allison Slijepcevic  1 , Suparna Shah  1 , Maisie Shindo  1 , Joshua Schindler  1 , Alessa Colaianni  1 , Daniel Clayburgh  1 , Peter Andersen  1 , Paul Flint  1 , Mark K Wax  1 , Ryan J Li  1
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Use of Perioperative Virtual Reality Experiences on Anxiety and Pain: A Randomized Comparative Trial

Vivek C Pandrangi et al. Laryngoscope. 2024 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the effect of different virtual reality (VR) experiences on perioperative anxiety and pain among patients undergoing head and neck surgery.

Methods: Prospective, randomized, comparative trial among patients undergoing outpatient head and neck surgery from December 2021 to April 2022 at a single academic institution. Group 1 utilized a preoperative VR gaming experience and a postoperative VR mindfulness experience, while Group 2 utilized the same interventions in the reverse order. Anxiety and pain were measured using visual analog scales (VAS). Primary outcomes were changes in post-intervention anxiety and pain. Secondary outcomes included vital sign changes and subjective patient experiences using a 5-point Likert scale.

Results: There were 32 patients randomized for inclusion, with 16 patients per group. The majority of patients were female (65.6%) and mean (standard deviation) age was 47.3 (16.7) years. After outlier exclusion, there were no differences in post-intervention preoperative anxiety reduction (Group 1 vs. Group 2, median [IQR]: -12.0 [15] vs. -10.5 [13], p = 0.62). There were minor differences in vital sign changes (p < 0.05). Among the 10 patients in Group 1 and 12 patients in Group 2 who completed postoperative VR use, there were no differences in post-intervention pain reduction (-8.5 [22.3] vs. -7.5 [19.3], p = 0.95) or vital sign changes (p > 0.05). There were no differences in questionnaire responses, with high satisfaction in both groups (p > 0.05). No adverse events encountered.

Conclusions: Use of different VR experiences among patients undergoing outpatient head and neck surgery appears associated with similar reductions in perioperative anxiety and pain.

Level of evidence: 2 Laryngoscope, 134:1197-1202, 2024.

Keywords: anxiety; pain; surgery; virtual reality.

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References

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