The impact of virtual reality on patient experience during wide-awake surgery: a randomized controlled trial
Recommended Citation
McConnell J, DeYoung JK, Pum JM, Wu M, Aggarwal N, and Day CS. The impact of virtual reality on patient experience during wide-awake surgery: a randomized controlled trial. J Hand Surg Eur Vol 2025; 17531934241313207.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-24-2025
Publication Title
J Hand Surg Eur Vol
Abstract
This study aimed to establish whether virtual reality can reduce patient anxiety and improve surgical satisfaction during wide-awake local anaesthetic no tourniquet hand procedures. Previously validated questionnaires were used to assess subjective anxiety and patient satisfaction. Objective anxiety was determined using patient blood pressure and heart rate measured four times during the procedure. The median difference in intra-operative minus pre-operative diastolic blood pressure was significantly lower in the virtual reality group compared with the control group (p = 0.003). There was a significant decrease in heart rate from pre-operative to post-operative within the virtual reality group (p < 0.001). No differences were observed in subjective anxiety or surgical satisfaction between the groups. Virtual reality can benefit wide-awake patients during hand procedures, particularly where patient preference exists.
Level of evidence: Level I, Randomized Controlled Trial.
PubMed ID
39852239
ePublication
ePub ahead of print
First Page
17531934241313207
Last Page
17531934241313207
