Clinical Report: VR Use Reduces Stress and Pain in Port Implantation Surgery

Overview

This feasibility study evaluated the impact of virtual reality (VR) headsets on pain perception and stress during port implantation under local anesthesia. Results demonstrated that VR use significantly reduced intraoperative pain and stress levels compared to controls receiving music alone.

Background

Virtual reality (VR) technology has advanced substantially, offering novel applications in healthcare, including surgical training, anxiety reduction, and pain management. VR distracts patients by engaging the visual cortex, thereby diminishing pain processing and preoperative anxiety. Port implantation is a common minor surgical procedure often performed under local anesthesia, primarily in cancer patients requiring long-term venous access. Enhancing patient comfort during such procedures can improve both patient experience and surgical workflow.

Data Highlights

Key Findings

• Use of Pico G2 4K Premium VR headsets during port implantation significantly reduced patients' intraoperative pain perception compared to controls.
• Patients in the VR group required less additional local anesthetic beyond the initial 20 ml dose.
• VR immersion led to decreased preoperative and postoperative anxiety and stress levels as measured by the Y-6 Item Questionnaire.
• No significant differences were found in baseline pain catastrophizing scores between groups, indicating comparable psychological profiles preoperatively.
• Patients reported high user satisfaction with the VR system, noting ease of use and immersive distraction.
• The study demonstrated feasibility and safety of VR use in ambulatory surgical settings under local anesthesia.

Clinical Implications

Incorporating VR headsets as a non-pharmacological adjunct during minor surgical procedures under local anesthesia can effectively reduce patient pain and anxiety. This may decrease the need for additional anesthetic agents and improve overall patient experience. VR technology offers a practical, user-friendly tool to enhance perioperative care in ambulatory surgery centers.

Conclusion

This study supports the feasibility and benefits of VR immersion in reducing pain and stress during port implantation under local anesthesia. VR represents a promising adjunct to improve patient comfort and surgical conditions in routine minor procedures.

References

1. Hoffman et al. 2000 -- VR for Pain Management in Burn Patients
2. Garrett et al. 2017 -- VR Distraction for Acute Pain Reduction
3. Gold et al. 2006 -- VR in Pediatric Pain Management
4. Hoffman et al. 2004 -- VR Effects on Pain Processing
5. Wiederhold et al. 2014 -- VR and Anxiety Reduction
6. SyncVR Medical GmbH -- SyncVR Relax & Distract Programs
7. Technical University Munich Ethics Committee Approval 2022