Postoperative Implementation of Virtual Reality and Wearable Devices: Opportunities and Challenges

作者：Vivek C. Pandrangi, Ana V. Araujo, Michelle Buncke, Brennan Olson, Matthew Jorizzo, Nasser Said‐Al‐Naief, Olabisi Sanusi, Jeremy Ciporen, Maisie L. Shindo, Joshua S. Schindler, C. Alessandra Colaianni, Daniel Clayburgh, Peter E. Andersen, Paul W. Flint, Mark K. Wax, Mathew Geltzeiler, Ryan J. Li · 发表于：The Laryngoscope · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1002/lary.31989 · 被引用次数：5 · 研究领域：Enhanced Recovery After Surgery、Pediatric Pain Management Techniques、Airway Management and Intubation Techniques

OBJECTIVE: To examine implementation of virtual reality (VR) and Fitbit wearable activity devices in postoperative recovery. METHODS: This was a prospective, 4-arm, randomized controlled trial of patients undergoing inpatient head and neck surgery at a tertiary academic center from November 2021 to July 2022. Patients were randomized to Control, VR, Fitbit, or combined VR + Fitbit groups. Patients in the VR groups were brought VR headsets to use throughout each day, and patients in the Fitbit groups wore Fitbit devices and were encouraged to achieve 2,000 daily steps. The primary outcome was average daily opioid use, measured as milligram morphine equivalents (MME). RESULTS: There were 80 patients included. The majority of patients were male (68.8%), and mean age was 58.8 ± 14.4 years. Only the combined VR + Fitbit cohort was associated with reduced average daily opioid use (VR + Fitbit: 8.8 [20.6] MME vs. Control: 26.4 [37.4] MME, p = 0.02). Patients in intervention groups also had higher hospital satisfaction (p = 0.02). VR was utilized 26% of the time it was provided, with mean use time of 23.8 ± 7.8 min. Mean post-VR subjective pain reduction was 1.0 ± 1.3, and there were three mild adverse events of neck or nasal discomfort. Among the Fitbit groups, there were no adverse events and daily step counts ≥2,000 steps were achieved 45% of the time. CONCLUSION: Implementation of VR and wearable activity devices in postoperative recovery appears well tolerated and may facilitate...