Virtual Reality As a Distraction Therapy During Cystoscopy: a Clinical Trial

Overview

Journal Rev Col Bras Cir

Specialty General Surgery

Date 2022 May 18

PMID 35584530

Authors

Diego Inacio Goergen

Daniel Melecchi de Oliveira Freitas

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Objectives: to investigate whether virtual reality (VR) experience is associated with decreased pain sensation among patients who undergo rigid cystoscopy under local anesthesia.

Methods: we performed a prospective, randomized, controlled study of 159 patients who were aleatorily enrolled into two groups: VR and control. VR experience intervention consisted of using a headset with a smartphone adapted to a virtual reality glasses where an app-video was played during the procedure. Main outcomes analyzed were pain, discomfort, heart rate variability, difficulty and duration of the cystoscopy. Statistical analyses were performed using a Student's t test, Mann-Whitney test and Chi-square test. A P<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: among 159 patients studied (VR group=80 patients; control group=79 patients), the mean age was 63,6 years and 107 (67,3%) were male. There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics between the 2 groups. VR was significantly associated to decreased heart rate variability (6,29 vs 11,09 bpm, P<0,001) and lower duration of the procedure (5,33 vs 8,65 min, P<0,001). Also, when cystoscopies due to double-J extraction were excluded, VR experience was associated with reduced pain on the visual analog score of pain (3,26 vs 4,33 cm, P=0,023).

Conclusions: the use of VR as a distraction therapy while performing outpatient cystoscopies is safe, has no side effects, is associated with less pain and discomfort, and reduces length of procedure.

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