Effect of Virtual Reality Immersion on Patient's Anxiety During Pre-oxygenation Before General Anaesthesia

Launched by ENTE OSPEDALIERO CANTONALE, BELLINZONA · Feb 7, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying whether using virtual reality (VR) can help reduce anxiety in patients who are getting ready for general anesthesia. Before surgery, patients typically go through a step called pre-oxygenation, where they breathe in extra oxygen. The researchers want to find out if immersing patients in a VR experience during this time can make them feel more comfortable and less anxious, as well as how easy it is to use this technology in a medical setting.

To participate in the trial, you need to be at least 18 years old and scheduled for an elective surgery that requires general anesthesia. It’s important that you can understand the study and agree to take part by signing a consent form. However, there are several reasons why someone might not be eligible, such as having a history of certain medical conditions, speaking a language other than Italian, or having issues that would make wearing VR headsets difficult. If you join, you can expect to wear a VR headset during the pre-oxygenation process, and the researchers will monitor how it affects your anxiety and comfort levels.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • All non-ambulatory patients undergoing elective surgery or procedure under general anaesthesia with intravenous induction
• • Minimal age of 18 year old
• • Able to give informed consent for the study as documented by signature
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Lacking capacity or ability to complete the consent form and/or questionnaire and interview method and/or incapacity to respond to the required obligations linked to the study protocol (assessed by the operator)
• • Known cognitive dysfunction, previous history of neurological/psychiatric disease like epilepsy
• • Depression or anxiety under treatment
• • Non-Italian speaking patients
• • Anticipated difficult airway management
• • Injuries to the head/face that would prohibit wearing headsets
• • Active nasal bleeding or occlusion, nasal abnormality or recent nasal trauma, recent nasal surgery, significant raised intracranial pressure and base of skull fractures
• • Any pre-operative premedication, including pharmacological premedication
• • Rapid sequence induction
• • Haemodynamic instability
• • Infectious skin conditions on the head/face
• • Undrained pneumothorax
• • Contact isolation due to bacteria and viruses
• • Symptoms of vertigo or motion sickness
• • Reduced visual or auditory acuity
• • BMI \> 35 kg/m2
• • Pregnancy
• • Claustrophobia
• • Pre-existing hypoxemia (baseline oxygen saturation \< 92% when breathing room air)
• • Need for an arterial line before general anaesthesia induction