Virtual Reality Games in Pediatric Surgery

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Virtual Reality Games Versus Nitrous Oxide for Pain Reduction in Common Outpatient Procedures in Pediatric Surgery

Randomized controlled trial reporting the pain levels and pain control/reduction of children at the age of 6-15 undergoing surgical procedures by using VR compared to nitrous oxide. Therefore, 50 patients in each treatment group are recruited, resulting in 100 children altogether. The pain levels and pain control/reduction is measured by the standard anesthesia protocol normally used when nitrous oxide is applied and questionnaires that are administered to the patients at baseline and two weeks after surgery including both the primary and secondary outcome.

Instead of nitrous oxide, which is the standard procedure, virtual reality gaming is applied to reach pain reduction in minor surgery procedures

Pain scale to measure pain reduction for children at the age 6-9, the score results in a pain score from 1-10 (1: minimum value, no pain; 10: maximum value, strongest imaginable pain)

Pain scale to measure pain reduction for children at the age 11-15, the score results in a pain score from 1-10 (1: minimum value, no pain; 10: maximum value, strongest imaginable pain)

Pain scale to measure pain reduction for children at the age 6-9, the score results in a pain score from 1-10 (1: minimum value, no pain; 10: maximum value, strongest imaginable pain)

Pain scale to measure pain reduction for children at the age 11-15, the score results in a pain score from 1-10 (1: minimum value, no pain; 10: maximum value, strongest imaginable pain)

Did the patient have fun during the procedures, measured by questionnaires with a Likert Scale from 1 to 6 (1= no fun, 6= maximum of fun)

Did the patient have fun during the procedures, measured by questionnaires with a Likert Scale from 1 to 6 (1= no fun, 6= maximum of fun)

The patient is asked in the questionnaires if he/she woud undergo the procedures again with a Likert Scale from 1 to 6 (1= would absolutely not do it again, 6= would absolutely do it again)

The patient is asked in the questionnaires if he/she woud undergo the procedures again with a Likert Scale from 1 to 6 (1= would absolutely not do it again, 6= would absolutely do it again)

Inclusion Criteria: Indication to undergo an elective minor surgical procedure (removal of percutaneous osteosynthesis or pin material or dressing change) Written informed consent by parents Written informed consent by patient if patient is 14 or 15 years old Exclusion Criteria: Inability to understand the VR-program Inability to fill in the questionnaire because of language deficiencies Neurologic disorders Respiratory tract infections Intolerance of the VR headset or VR gaming procedure