A Study on Pain Management in Pediatric Surgery

Background

Children often feel anxious and in pain during minor surgeries. This study looks for better ways to manage pain without relying solely on medications. We compare the use of immersive virtual reality (VR) games to nitrous oxide, a common sedative, to see which is more effective in reducing pain during outpatient procedures.

Methods

We conducted a randomized controlled trial with 100 children aged 6 to 15 undergoing minor surgeries. Some children used VR, while others received nitrous oxide. We measured pain levels right after the procedure and two weeks later. We also assessed how much fun or fear the children experienced, their willingness to repeat the procedure, and if there were any time limits with VR compared to nitrous oxide. Safety and any side effects were also monitored.

Discussion

This study fills an important gap in understanding how to manage pain in children. It is the first of its kind to compare VR with nitrous oxide for pain relief in pediatric surgeries. Early results suggest that VR could be a helpful distraction and pain management tool for young patients.

Trial Registration

This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05510141.

Trial Sponsor

The study is sponsored by Cordula Scherer from the Clinic for Pediatric Surgery at Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland.

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