Effect of Virtual Reality on the Need of Premedication Before Surgery

Effect of Virtual Reality Immersion on the Need of Pharmacological Premedication Before Cardiac Surgery

This study will assess, on patients requesting a pharmacological premedication in the preoperative period, if virtual reality reality could reduce the request of pharmacological premedication while maintaining a good level of comfort for the patient. The aim of this study is to understand if virtual reality could reduce the need for pharmacological premedication and their associated secondary effects.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All patients undergoing elective surgery
• Minimal age of 18-year-old
• Able to give informed consent for the study
• Requesting pharmacological premedication in the pre-operative period.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lacking capacity or ability to complete the consent form or to respond to the required obligations linked to the study protocol
• Contraindications to pharmacological premedication
• Known cognitive dysfunction, previous history of neurological/psychiatric diseases like epilepsy
• Non Italian speaking patients
• Injuries to the head/face that would prohibit wearing headsets
• Infectious skin conditions of the head/face
• Contact isolation due to bacteria and viruses
• Symptoms of vertigo or motion sickness
• Reduced visual or auditory acuity
• Pregnancy
• Claustrophobia