Introduction to Virtual Reality in Heart Surgery
Heart surgery is a serious and invasive medical procedure that might be intimidating for patients. A brand new study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings suggests that virtual reality (VR) might be an efficient tool to cut back preoperative anxiety in older patients undergoing their first open-heart surgery.
The Study and Its Findings
The study included 100 participants who were scheduled for open-heart surgery. Each patient wore a monitor to record vital signs and accomplished a standardized, clinically validated anxiety test before and after the VR intervention on the day of surgery. The test asked them to rate their current state with 20 questions related to feelings starting from calm to upset. Participants rated each feeling on a scale of 1 to 4, with 1 being "under no circumstances" and 4 being "very much."
How Virtual Reality Was Used
Half of the participants were assigned to a VR tablet and the opposite half to immersive VR goggles while they waited within the holding area prior to surgery. The VR provided a 10-minute nature experience with guided respiratory as they viewed trees and a waterfront that modified through 4 seasons. The tablet played a video of the content seen by patients in VR, while individuals who used the immersive VR headset were in a position to look throughout and discover environmental features, which helped them advance through the scene.
Results of the Study
Both interventions reduced the heart beat rate of participants, but they didn’t affect respiration rate or oxygen levels. Overall anxiety scores decreased a median of two points with the tablet treatment and a pair of.9 points with the VR goggles. Additionally, the researchers note that the scores improved considerably in as much as seven of the anxiety-focused questions with the tablet and VR goggles.
Benefits of Virtual Reality
Unlike traditional anti-anxiety medications, which may have drawbacks comparable to increased difficulty placing the tube that helps a patient breathe during surgery and an extended time to remove the tube after surgery, VR offers a nonpharmacological alternative. The study also highlights the potential of VR as a versatile tool, with the tablet-based option providing a viable alternative for patients prone to VR-induced motion sickness.
Expert Insights
According to Jordan Miller, Ph.D., a heart problems researcher at Mayo Clinic and senior writer of the study, "This research represents a step forward in improving the patient experience and potentially using this approach to optimize postoperative recovery." Joseph Dearani, M.D., and John Stulak, M.D., each cardiac surgeons at Mayo Clinic involved with the study, emphasize the importance of emotional state before and after cardiac surgery.
Conclusion
The study’s findings suggest that virtual reality might be an efficient tool in reducing preoperative anxiety in older patients undergoing their first open-heart surgery. With its nonpharmacological approach and adaptability, VR has the potential to enhance the patient experience and optimize postoperative recovery. As researchers proceed to explore the advantages of VR in healthcare, it might turn into a precious tool in reducing anxiety and improving outcomes for patients undergoing serious medical procedures.
