Virtual Reality Assisted Anesthesia (VRAA) during Upper Gastrointestinal Endoscopy: Report of 115 Cases— Analysis of Physiological Responses Pages 1-11

José Luis Mosso Vázquez1,2, Brenda K. Wiederhold3,4, Ian Miller5, Dejanira Mosso Lara6 and Mark D. Wiederhold3

1Clínica de Especialidades Alberto Pisanty, ISSSTE Mexico City, Mexico; 2School of Medicine, Universidad Panamericana, Campus Mexico City, Mexico; 3The Virtual Reality Medical Center, USA; 4The Virtual Reality Medical Institute, Belgium; 5Interactive Media Institute, USA; 6School of Medicine, Universidad Anahuac, Mexico
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12970/2311-9888.2017.05.01

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Abstract: Medical procedures, open surgery, physical therapy, and rehabilitation have benefited from the effectiveness of technologies like VR as a supplemental tool to pharmacological pain management strategies, such as anesthesia. The present study elaborates on previously reported findings (Mosso et al., 2016) of virtual reality assisted anesthesia during upper gastrointestinal surgery of 115 patients.
Methodology: 115 patients were administered an upper GI Endoscopy with local anesthesia. Prior to endoscopies, they were divided into two groups, one supplemented with VR (n = 56) and the other without VR (n = 59). The VR group was presented with one of four relaxation environments (forest, cliff, castle, or beach) through head mounted displays. Vital signs including heart rate (HR), respiration rate (RR), and oral secretion were measured before, during, and after endoscopies.
Results: Single factor ANOVAs indicate a reduction in visceral response (heart rate, respiratory rate, and oral secretion) in subsets of patients during upper GI in the VR group compared to the non-VR group. Subjective ratings of pain were also significantly lower. Differences and effect sizes for gender, age, and procedure type are discussed.
Conclusions: VR is an effective supplemental tool to pharmacological agents during upper GI. Findings suggest that VR distraction may considerably reduce the need for medication during surgical procedures.
Keywords: Panendoscopy, Anesthesia, Virtual reality, Pain distraction, Gastrointestinal endoscopy, Surgery.
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