BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2026 Oct 8;26(1):993. doi: 10.1186/s12872-026-06778-6.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Chest tube removal (CTR) following open-heart surgery is a painful procedure that may adversely affect patients’ hemodynamic parameters.
PURPOSE: This study aimed to determine the effect of virtual reality glasses (VRG) used during chest tube removal after open-heart surgery on pain levels and hemodynamic parameters.
METHODS: This prospective, two-arm (1:1), randomized controlled trial included 82 patients undergoing open-heart surgery. Patients in the VRG group (n = 41) were exposed to relaxing forest-walk-themed virtual reality content starting five minutes before CTR and continuing for five minutes after the procedure. The control group (n = 41) received routine care without any additional intervention. Pain levels were assessed using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and hemodynamic parameters-systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), and peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO₂)-were recorded before CTR, immediately after, and at 5, 15, and 30 min post-procedure.
RESULTS: A significant group × time interaction was observed for pain (p = 0.003). After adjustment for baseline pain and multiple comparisons, pain was significantly lower in the VRG group than in the control group immediately after CTR (adjusted mean difference [VRG — Control]: -1.26, 95% CI: -1.85 to — 0.68; adjusted p < 0.001), whereas no significant between-group differences were observed at 5, 15, or 30 min. A significant group × time interaction was also observed for SpO₂ (p < 0.001), with significantly higher SpO₂ in the VRG group immediately after CTR (adjusted mean difference: 2.70, 95% CI: 1.88 to 3.53; adjusted p < 0.001). No significant group × time interactions were observed for SBP, DBP, HR, or RR.
CONCLUSION: VRG use during CTR was associated with lower pain immediately after the procedure and higher SpO₂ immediately after CTR. No significant effects were observed for SBP, DBP, HR, or RR. These findings suggest that VRG may be a useful non-pharmacological adjunct for short-term pain management during CTR following open-heart surgery. Further studies are needed to confirm its effects on oxygenation and other hemodynamic parameters.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05585853) first submitted on October 12, 2022, and first posted on October 19, 2022.
PMID:42958055 | DOI:10.1186/s12872-026-06778-6
