Video glasses: Distraction during regional anesthesia through audiovisual sedation

So simple, so effective: Video glasses distract patients before and after surgery, thereby reducing stress. This has a positive impact on their well-being and recovery. What’s more, the method of audiovisual sedation helps avoid the aftereffects of sedatives used for general anesthesia.

In this multimedia report, Andreas Janzen - a specialist in anesthesiology and senior attending physician at the Inselklinik Föhr-Amrum, Germany - shares his experiences directly from everyday clinical practice with us.

Audiovisual sedation involves a combination of images and sound. The eyes and ears account for 80 percent of sensory input, which is why movies can distract patients’ attention from the medical procedure. So it’s as simple as this: choose a movie from a wide selection, put on the glasses and headphones, and off you go. To ensure that patients don’t lose their sense of orientation and remain responsive, the glasses don’t fit completely snugly on the sides.

Anesthesiologist Andreas Janzen has been testing the glasses for several months during inpatient procedures. He explains: “We don’t use the glasses in emergencies or accidents. But especially in outpatient settings, where we perform a high proportion of regional anesthesia — where patients are awake and only need to be lightly sedated — that’s when we use the glasses. Or even during general anesthesia in the first hour, while patients are in the prep area waiting for surgery. You can tell from their blood pressure and pulse that they’re relaxing. And that’s simply good for the anesthesia.”

In a video statement, the anesthesiologist explains the added value of audiovisual sedation: (click CC for English subtitles)

Another study showed that nearly half of the patients undergoing surgery under regional anesthesia were able to manage without additional sedation thanks to audiovisual distraction. Ninety percent of the patients preferred regional anesthesia with audiovisual distraction over general anesthesia. In addition, regional anesthesia is associated with fewer postoperative complications and shorter hospital stays.

Whether new procedures become established in everyday clinical practice is not determined solely by the results of clinical studies. Equally important is how well they are accepted by patients and whether they can be easily integrated into existing workflows. Practical experience shows that many patients view audiovisual distraction as a positive experience — and recommend it to others. For hospitals, this can be an important building block for further developing both medical care and the patient experience.