Using virtual reality as a method to reduce pain and anxiety in neurosurgical patients in the postoperative period

This study presents an investigation of the impact of virtual reality on the level of pain and anxiety in neurosurgical patients in the postoperative period. The study included 22 patients with neurovascular pathology. 12 patients underwent therapy sessions using virtual reality for 3 days after surgery (the study group); 10 patients were included in the control group. All patients received questionnaires to determine the anxiety level according to Beck and Zung a day before the operation. The following day, the patients underwent surgery: clipping of the aneurysm neck from the standard pterional approach. Within 3 days after surgery, all patients had their anxiety and pain levels assessed, and their hemodynamic parameters such as blood pressure and heart rate were measured. According to the results of statistical data processing, no statistically significant difference was found between the study and control groups in the change in anxiety and pain levels by the end of the study. There were also no statistically significant differences in the use of painkillers and antiemetics between the two groups in the first 3 days after surgery. When assessing hemodynamic parameters, a statistically significant difference was noted only in the change in systolic pressure: in the study group patients, systolic pressure decreased to a greater extent than in the control group. The use of virtual reality as a method for reducing pain and anxiety is a promising direction, but did not show a statistically significant result. The efficacy of this method may be reduced due to individual limitations in mastering the skills of using the equipment, and therefore additional studies with a larger group of subjects are required.