Imagine waking up from neck surgery, your throat sore and tight. A new study asked if a simple, 15-minute escape could help. Researchers had 69 patients recovering from thyroid or parathyroid surgery at a university hospital either watch a calming VR video of nature scenes with music or receive standard care. Right after the session, the group who used VR reported lower pain levels and felt more comfortable than those who didn't. The study's design suggests the VR likely helped, but we have to be careful. It was a small group of patients, and we only know how they felt in the 15 minutes right after the video. The researchers didn't report exactly how much pain dropped or by what number comfort rose. They also didn't detail results on patient satisfaction. The method was described as simple and risk-free, with no reported side effects. The authors themselves say we need bigger studies to confirm these early, promising signals.
VR application reduced pain and increased comfort after thyroid or parathyroid surgery in small RCTCan a 15-minute nature video help ease pain after neck surgery?
AI-generated summary of the cited source, checked by automated accuracy review. How we work
Key Takeaway
Consider VR as a potential auxiliary comfort measure post-thyroid surgery, but evidence is from a small, immediate-outcome study.
In a randomized controlled trial at a university hospital, 69 patients undergoing planned thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy were assigned to receive either a 15-minute VR video (nature and sea images with background music) on the first postoperative day or standard care without VR. Pain and comfort levels were assessed immediately before and after the intervention. The study found that pain levels decreased significantly in both groups, but pain was lower in the VR group after the application compared to the control group (P < .05). Comfort levels were also higher in the VR group, with a noted negative relationship between pain and comfort in the control group. No specific effect sizes, absolute numbers, or confidence intervals were reported for these outcomes. The authors described the VR application as a 'simple and risk-free method,' though adverse events, serious adverse events, and discontinuations were not specifically reported. Key limitations include the small sample size (n=69), immediate follow-up only (assessed at 0 and 15 minutes), and lack of detailed results for care satisfaction. The authors recommend further studies with larger samples. For practice, this suggests VR could potentially serve as an auxiliary, non-pharmacological method to enhance patient comfort and support pain management in postoperative nursing care, but its routine use requires more robust evidence.
What this means for you:
A short VR nature break might ease post-surgery pain, but more evidence is needed. More on Postoperative Pain
HEART score sensitivity 0.96 vs GRACE 0.88 for 30-day MACE in ED chest pain
HEART score better than GRACE at spotting heart attack risk in emergency room patients
This systematic review and meta-analysis of 14,862 ED patients with acute chest pain compared the HEART and GRACE scores for predicting 30-d…
A large review shows the HEART score is better at finding people with heart attacks than the GRACE score, helping doctors safely discharge l…
Systematic review finds aerobic exercise combined with other therapies helps reduce neck pain intensity and improve physical function in adults
Combined neck pain treatments beat aerobic exercise alone
A systematic review of six studies indicates that aerobic exercise alone shows no significant benefit over no treatment for neck pain. Howev…
Mixing aerobic exercise with other therapies helps reduce neck pain better than doing cardio by itself, according to new research on adults.
VR and music therapy alleviate anxiety, chronic pain, and cognitive impairment in diverse patients
Virtual reality and music therapy ease anxiety, pain, and brain fog
A scoping review of 34 articles found that integrating Virtual Reality and Music Therapy significantly alleviates symptoms of anxiety, chron…
A review of 34 studies finds VR combined with music therapy significantly reduces anxiety, chronic pain, and cognitive impairment.
Whole health team intervention reduced pain interference by 0.58 points versus cognitive behavioral therapy in VA patients
A new team approach offers small but real relief for chronic pain in VA patients
This randomized clinical trial enrolled 764 patients with chronic pain receiving VA primary care across six US health systems. Participants …
A new team approach offers small but real relief for chronic pain in VA patients compared to standard care or group therapy sessions.
View Original Abstract ↓
PURPOSE: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of virtual reality (VR) application on pain management, comfort, and care satisfaction in patients undergoing thyroidectomy-parathyroidectomy.
DESIGN: This study was a randomized controlled experimental study including control and intervention groups.
METHODS: The research was conducted at a university hospital with a total of 69 patients who underwent planned thyroidectomy or parathyroidectomy. The intervention group consisted of 34 patients, whereas the control group consisted of 35 patients. Patients were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. Patients in the intervention group were shown a VR video displaying nature and sea images and containing background music for 15 minutes on the first day after the surgery. Patients' pain levels assessed before the procedure were re-evaluated at the end of the VR application. In the control group, pain assessment was made at the 0th and 15th minutes. After pain assessments, patients' comfort and satisfaction levels were also evaluated. Data were assessed using descriptive statistical methods, t test, variance analysis, and correlation analysis, with a 95% confidence interval, significance set at P less than .05.
FINDINGS: While the decrease in pain levels assessed before and after the intervention was statistically significant in both groups, there was a difference between the groups in terms of pain and comfort levels after the intervention. In the intervention group, pain levels were lower and comfort levels were higher after the VR application. In the control group, there was a negative relationship between postoperative pain and comfort.
CONCLUSIONS: VR applications after thyroidectomy-parathyroidectomy can be an auxiliary method that can increase patients' comfort by contributing to effective pain management of the patients. VR applications can be used as a simple and risk-free method in nursing care, which aims to provide postoperative pain management and patient comfort. New studies should be conducted with larger samples examining the effectiveness of VR application in different surgical interventions.
Acupuncture combined with Chinese medicine reduces cancer pain intensity compared to usual care in a meta-analysis of 884 patients
Cancer Patients Feel Less Pain With Acupuncture and Herbal Therapy Today
Related in Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine
Fibromyalgia as an oncology comorbidity increases symptom burden and impairs treatment adherence
Fibromyalgia makes managing cancer pain more difficult for patients
This systematic review of 11 studies examines fibromyalgia as a comorbidity in cancer patients. The findings indicate that fibromyalgia cont…
Patients with both fibromyalgia and cancer face higher symptom burdens and may stop life-saving treatments sooner due to intense, amplified …
Intercostal nerve cryoablation reduces inpatient opioid consumption by 102 morphine milligram equivalents
Cryoablation reduces opioid use after thoracic and cardiac surgery
This meta-analysis of 18,465 patients undergoing non-pectus repair thoracic or cardiac procedures found that intercostal nerve cryoablation …
A new analysis shows that freezing specific nerves before chest surgery can significantly lower the amount of opioid pain medication patient…
Botulinum toxin type A as an add-on improves scar appearance scores in multimodal management
Botox May Improve Scar Appearance, Review Suggests
This meta-analysis evaluates the addition of botulinum toxin type A to standard protocols for managing scars. The analysis found improved ou…
Adding Botox to standard scar care may improve how scars look, but the evidence is low-certainty.
Liposomal bupivacaine reduces 24-hour resting pain scores by 1.04 points in brachial plexus blocks
Liposomal bupivacaine reduces pain after upper limb surgery
This meta-analysis of trials involving patients undergoing upper limb surgery found that liposomal bupivacaine significantly reduced resting…
A new type of local anesthetic may lower pain scores and reduce opioid use for patients undergoing upper limb surgeries.
From Other Specialties
Meningeal Immune System Offers New Target for Glioblastoma Immunotherapy
New approach targets the immune system to treat brain tumors
This systematic review explores how targeting the meningeal immune system, including dural lymphatics and rBAMs, could overcome current barr…
A new strategy focuses on the area where brain tumors meet the body's defenses to improve how immunotherapy works for glioblastoma.
A 6 dimension and 42 item system provides early risk assessment for high-risk diabetic feet
Experts Develop New Risk Assessment System for Diabetic Feet
This expert consultation and guideline describes the development of an early risk assessment system for high-risk diabetic feet. The consens…
A new assessment system identifies risk factors like nerve damage and circulation to help manage and prevent complications in patients with …
Rapid advancements in imaging and blood-based biomarkers are transforming the diagnosis and management of ADRD
New guidelines help doctors tell delirium from dementia
This clinical guideline provides a narrative review on the evolving diagnostic and treatment landscape for Alzheimer's disease and related d…
Delirium is acute and fluctuating; dementia is chronic. New guidelines help doctors tell them apart.
ACTH and vigabatrin achieved full seizure control in a patient with Ververi-Brady syndrome
ACTH and Vigabatrin Show Promise for Rare Epilepsy Syndrome
This case report describes a 5-month-old male infant with Ververi-Brady syndrome and infantile epileptic spasms syndrome. The patient achiev…
A new gene variant linked to Ververi-Brady syndrome showed positive results when treated with a combination of ACTH and vigabatrin.