Somayeh, W3 Article Review

4 August 2017

Virtual Reality for Pain Management in Cardiac Surgery

Reference: CYBERPSYCHOLOGY, BEHAVIOR, AND SOCIAL NETWORKING Volume 17, Number 6, 2014
a Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0198
DOI: 10.1089/cyber.2014.0198

The aim of Study: 

In surgical procedures especially before the operation, patients usually get stress. Surgical anxiety can easily affect psychological and physiological stress, therefore, it causes complications in surgical procedures, and patients prolong recovery. Giving calm and intensive care to patients before operation, can moderate patient vital signs and reduce discomfort. The aim of this study is to reduce postoperative anxieties by using Virtual Reality (VR) cyber therapy for patients who recently got cardiac surgery. The value of VR as an emerging technology in the surgical procedure introduced. 

Methods:

Virtual reality methods, using application of VR distraction therapy. for postoperative cases with two groups of Patients (n = 67; 25 female, 42 male) in the cardiac surgery department of IMSS La Raza National Medical Center were asked to participate in the study. This sixty-seven patient were monitored at IMSS La Raza National Medical Center within 24 hours of cardiac surgery. Patients navigated through a 30-minute VR simulation designed for pain management. Using prestimulation questionnaire to measure patient discomfort. Procedural instructions were given to the patients after their admission to the ICU. Patients participated and basic demographic information was collected.

Main Findings:

Results were analysed through comparison of pre and postoperative vital signs and Likert scale survey data. A connection was found in several physiological factors with subjective responses from the Likert scale survey. A positive correlation existed between breathing rate and Likert ratings, and a moderate correlation was found between mean arterial pressure and Likert ratings and heart rate and Likert ratings, which all indicated lower pain and stress within patients. Further study of these factors resulted in the categorization of patients based upon their vital signs and subjective response, providing a context for the effectiveness of the therapy to specific groups of patients. hospitals would improve surgery outcomes, patient recovery, and patient psychological and physical well-being. Efforts are currently centred on pre- operative anxiety. Medical interventions, such as midazolam, and therapeutic attempts, such as music in waiting rooms, have shown mixed results. Some studies show subjective pain measurements decreased under VR conditions, others show that no measurable differences were found in either pain or distress. Advancements in technology have allowed the use of VR in intensive care units (ICUs) to fulfil standard pain management techniques. Intensive surgical anxieties can activate the sympathetic nervous system and downregulate immune functions. Results indicate that post therapy pain ratings dropped, patients spent less time thinking about the pain, and majority enjoyed the simulation.