Evaluation of Virtual Reality for Reducing Opioid Use After Cardiac and Thoracic Surgery

Launched by FILOMENA R B G GALAS · Jul 3, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is looking at whether using virtual reality (VR) can help reduce the need for opioid pain medicines after heart or chest surgeries. Opioids are strong painkillers but can cause side effects like nausea, constipation, and even dependency. The study will include about 60 patients between 16 and 40 years old who are having certain types of heart or chest surgeries at a hospital in São Paulo, Brazil. To take part, patients need to have good thinking skills and no problems like severe vision issues, motion sickness, or claustrophobia.

Participants will be randomly divided into three groups: one group will receive standard care plus interactive VR games and relaxing virtual environments; the second group will get standard care plus only relaxing VR videos; and the third group will receive standard care without any VR. Those using VR will have three sessions each day, lasting about 30 to 45 minutes, for up to five days after surgery or until they leave the hospital. The study team will help patients use the VR equipment and will closely supervise all sessions. The main goal is to see if VR can lower the amount of opioid medication patients need and help control their pain better. The trial will also look at other recovery factors like nausea, time on breathing machines, hospital stay length, and overall patient satisfaction. If successful, VR could become a helpful, safe, and cost-effective way to manage pain after surgery without relying too much on opioids.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Patients undergoing elective cardiac or thoracic surgeries at the Heart Institute (InCor) of the Hospital das Clínicas of the University of São Paulo.
• • Eligible thoracic surgeries include: pulmonary decortication, thoracic sympathectomy, video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS), pulmonary biopsy, and pectus excavatum repair using the Nuss procedure.
• • Patients aged between 16 and 40 years.
• • Preserved cognitive function, indicated by a Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of ≥ 25.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Visual impairments.
• • Cognitive impairment (MMSE ≤ 24).
• • Severe upper limb motor limitations.
• • Claustrophobia.
• • Spatial disorientation.
• • Motion sickness or vestibular disorders.
• • Infectious or contagious diseases.