Virtual Reality: A New Tool for Anxiolysis, Distraction, and Analgesia
摘要
Forecasters predict that 50% of all sedations will occur outside of the operating room within the next decade. There are growing concerns about the sedation (especially repeated sedations/opioids and deeper sedation levels) of children whose brains are especially vulnerable to neurotoxins during rapid neurodevelopment. Immersive virtual reality (VR) sedation/analgesia, originated by Hoffman, is proving to be a powerful new psychological distraction technique with little or no side effects. Patients look into a pair of goggles and have the illusion of going into the computer-generated virtual world, which helps divert their attention away from their anxiety, pain, and discomfort. The present chapter describes a growing body of evidence supporting the adjunctive use of VR as a non-pharmacologic sedation/analgesic for children during a growing number of medical procedures outside of the operating room. A few tips are mentioned about how to get started using VR.