Sargut Mine, Novotny Alexander, Friess Helmut, Kranzfelder Michael
Department of Surgery, Klinikum Rechts Der Isar, TU Munich, Ismaningerstr. 22, 81675, Munich, Germany.
Department of Surgery, Klinikum Freising GmbH, Alois-Steinecker-Straße 18, 85354, Freising, Germany.
Int J Comput Assist Radiol Surg. 2025 Apr;20(4):735-742. doi: 10.1007/s11548-024-03305-w. Epub 2024 Dec 21.
Virtual reality (VR) technology has gained significant importance in medical practice, particularly as an innovative approach to enhance patient experience and comfort. This prospective feasibility study investigates the impact of using VR headsets on stress and pain reduction during port surgeries under local anesthesia.
In this prospective analysis, patients undergoing port implantation at the Klinikum rechts der Isar Technical University Munich were divided into two groups. The intervention group wore VR headsets during the surgical procedure, while the control group did not. Various validated questionnaires were used to measure psychological parameters such as pain perception, stress, calmness, and relaxation. The amount of local anesthesia administered was also documented.
The study results showed that patients in the VR group required significantly less local anesthesia than those in the control group (p = 0.0025). Pain perception in the VR group was significantly lower (p = 0.028). Additionally, self-assessments regarding calmness, relaxation, and satisfaction were significantly improved in the VR group (p < 0.01). A stronger correlation between higher pain catastrophizing scale scores and anesthetic requirements was observed in the VR group, suggesting that VR may offer particular benefits for patients with increased pain sensitivity. Although gender differences were not statistically significant, a trend toward higher anesthetic requirements in male patients was noted. The evaluation of the VR headsets by patients was overwhelmingly positive, indicating high acceptance of the technology.
The use of VR headsets during surgical procedures can significantly enhance patient comfort by reducing pain and stress levels. The high patient acceptance and positive evaluations of VR suggest its feasibility for broader clinical application. However, future studies should address potential cognitive biases, compare VR with other distraction methods, and explore its effects on different patient subgroups. Future research should also consider the role of gender-specific factors in the modulation of anesthetic requirements by VR. Additionally, a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis will be crucial for assessing the economic viability of VR technology in healthcare.
VR technology represents a promising method to improve patient experience and comfort in surgical settings. The positive outcomes of this study encourage further research to fully capture and validate the potential of VR in medicine, particularly in pain management and stress reduction during various medical procedures.
虚拟现实（VR）技术在医学实践中已变得极为重要，尤其是作为一种提升患者体验和舒适度的创新方法。这项前瞻性可行性研究调查了在局部麻醉下的端口手术中使用VR头戴设备对减轻压力和疼痛的影响。
在这项前瞻性分析中，慕尼黑工业大学伊萨尔河右岸医院接受端口植入手术的患者被分为两组。干预组在手术过程中佩戴VR头戴设备，而对照组不佩戴。使用各种经过验证的问卷来测量心理参数，如疼痛感知、压力、平静程度和放松程度。还记录了局部麻醉药的使用量。
研究结果表明，VR组患者所需的局部麻醉药明显少于对照组（p = 0.0025）。VR组的疼痛感知明显更低（p = 0.028）。此外，VR组在平静程度、放松程度和满意度方面的自我评估有显著改善（p < 0.01）。在VR组中，更高的疼痛灾难化量表得分与麻醉需求之间存在更强的相关性，这表明VR可能对疼痛敏感性增加的患者有特别的益处。虽然性别差异没有统计学意义，但注意到男性患者的麻醉需求有增加的趋势。患者对VR头戴设备的评价绝大多数是积极的，表明对该技术的接受度很高。
在手术过程中使用VR头戴设备可以通过降低疼痛和压力水平显著提高患者舒适度。患者对VR的高接受度和积极评价表明其在更广泛临床应用中的可行性。然而，未来的研究应解决潜在的认知偏差，将VR与其他分散注意力的方法进行比较，并探索其对不同患者亚组的影响。未来的研究还应考虑性别特异性因素在VR调节麻醉需求中的作用。此外，全面的成本效益分析对于评估VR技术在医疗保健中的经济可行性至关重要。
VR技术是一种有前景的方法，可改善手术环境中的患者体验和舒适度。本研究的积极结果鼓励进一步研究，以充分发掘并验证VR在医学中的潜力，特别是在各种医疗程序中的疼痛管理和压力减轻方面。
