SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Not knowing what to expect before having a surgical procedure can send anyone’s stress levels and heart rate soaring. For a child, the thought can be downright terrifying. But now doctors at one of the country’s leading children’s hospitals have come up with a solution.
Like many teenagers, Zack Dwyer enjoys hanging out and sampling the latest in virtual reality. This headset is not just for fun, but a way to prepare him for going into the hospital.
“My heart rate was going about 260 beats per minutes, which is a little fast. I never experienced this before,” Dwyer explained to Ivanhoe.
Luckily, it was a problem his doctors could easily fix with a catheterization procedure. However, the thought of being in a hospital can be intimidating, especially if you’re just 17.
“He told me beforehand he was quite nervous about the procedure,” Anne Dubin, MD, Pediatric Cardiology at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital told Ivanhoe.
Zack was then enrolled in a virtual reality study at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford. Created by Dr. Dubin and psychologist Lauren Schneider, “Project BraveHeart” aims to reduce anxiety in children having cardiac catherization.
“And so we wanted to think of a way to enhance that and maybe do that a little more quickly.” Lauren Schneider, PsyD, Adolescent Psychiatry at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital said to Ivanhoe.
“We basically walk a child through the entire procedure that they’re going to be undergoing,” Dr. Dubin explained.
In addition, the headset also provides kids with relaxation techniques to try.
Dr. Dubin continued, “Patients who have been using the VR experience come in they’re much calmer the day of the procedure. They seem to be ready for it.”
Zack’s mother, Kathryn, said, “It really calmed some of his nerves.”
But most importantly for Zack and his family…
“The operation was a success,” Kathryn finished.
Once the study is complete, the doctors will begin looking at other ways to use the VR device beyond catherization. The hope is to eventually offer it to other hospitals across the country.
Contributors to this news report include: Cyndy McGrath, Supervising Producer; Jennifer Winter, Field Producer; Alan Filippi, Videographer; Gabriella Battistiol, Assistant Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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