Interventional cardiology: what matters most, technology or empathy?

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Editorial. Population: Chronic total coronary occlusions. Intervention: Virtual reality (VR) headset distraction vs. Usual care. Primary outcome: Periprocedural anxiety levels and analgesic requirements.

and Ramiro Trillo Nouche; Guisela Flores Vergara

doi:10.24875/recice.m26000616

November 2, 2026REC interventional cardiology (English Edition)Open Access

Interventional cardiology: what matters most, technology or empathy?

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Key Points

Examine the integration of digital innovations, such as virtual reality headsets and artificial intelligence, with human empathy in conscious cardiac catheterization procedures.
Editorial commentary evaluating recent clinical evidence on virtual reality distraction, specifically the ReViCTO trial, within interventional cardiology.
Analyzed the influence of technical innovations versus bedside clinician communication on procedural anxiety and analgesia requirements.
In the ReViCTO trial, virtual reality headset distraction during percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total coronary occlusions did not differ from usual care in patient anxiety levels or analgesic requirements.
Digital tools and artificial intelligence optimize diagnostics but provide maximum benefit when returning time to the physician-patient relationship rather than displacing human rapport.

PICO

P

Population

Patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total coronary occlusions.

I

Intervention / Comparator

Virtual reality (VR) headset distraction vs Usual care

O

Primary Outcome

Periprocedural anxiety levels and analgesic requirements

Limitations

Baseline anxiety levels in the referenced ReViCTO study were not high, leaving little room for improvement with virtual reality
Effectiveness of virtual reality depends heavily on the clinical setting, the content selected, and its integration into the care pathway

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Implication

This editorial discusses the ReViCTO study, emphasizing that while technologies like virtual reality and artificial intelligence can complement patient care during complex coronary interventions, they cannot replace empathy and the physician-patient relationship.

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Cite This Study

Nouche et al. (2026) conducted an editorial in Chronic total coronary occlusions. Virtual reality (VR) headset distraction vs. Usual care was evaluated on Periprocedural anxiety levels and analgesic requirements.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6aee55b0b90f2c319d9420cc https://doi.org/10.24875/recice.m26000616

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Interventional cardiology: what matters most, technology or empathy?

Key Points

PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Interventional cardiology: what matters most, technology or empathy?

Key Points

PICO

Limitations

Ask about this paper

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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