Virtual Reality for Postoperative Recovery After Major Abdominal Surgery

Recruiting now · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Abdominal Surgery, Postoperative Recovery, Postoperative Pain, Length of Hospital Stay

In brief

Major abdominal surgery often leads to significant postoperative pain, anxiety, and prolonged hospital stays, which can delay overall recovery. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of immersive Virtual Reality (VR) as a non-pharmacological intervention to enhance the quality of recovery and reduce the length of hospital stay. Patients in the intervention group will engage in standardized VR sessions featuring guided relaxation and mindfulness-based stress reduction, starting from the evening before surgery through the third postoperative day. The study compares this VR-enhanced protocol against standard perioperative care within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) framework. The findings are expected to determine if VR can serve as a feasible and effective tool to improve clinical outcomes and patient well-being in surgical wards.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT07493499

Run by

Alexandria University

People needed

60

Starts

2026-03-28

Expected to finish

2026-05-01

Last updated by the study team

2026-04-23

Who can join

Age: 18 and older, up to 60. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Adult patients aged 18 to 60 years.
• Scheduled for elective major abdominal surgery (e.g., colorectal, gastric, or hepatobiliary procedures).
• Physical and cognitive ability to provide informed consent.
• Ability to use and interact with Virtual Reality (VR) equipment (head-mounted display).
• Followed the standardized Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocol at the hospital.

You may not qualify if…

• Patients with a history of epilepsy or photosensitive seizures.
• Significant cognitive impairment or diagnosed psychiatric disorders that may interfere with study participation.
• Severe visual or auditory impairments that prevent effective interaction with VR content.
• Patients with pre-existing motion sickness or severe vertigo.
• Presence of open wounds or infections in the head or face area that prevent wearing the VR headset.

Where it is running

• Alexandria University Hospital, Faculty of Nursing — Alexandria, Alexandria Governorate, Egypt (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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