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Clinical Trials/NCT06434116
NCT06434116Not yet recruitingNot Applicable

Benefits of Immersive Virtual Reality on Dyspnoea During a Weaning Test in the Intensive Care Unit

Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris0 sites30 target enrollmentStarted: October 3, 2025Last updated:
Conditions
Interventions

Trial Snapshot

Phase
Not Applicable
Status
Not yet recruiting
Enrollment
30
Primary Endpoint
Respiratory discomfort VAS

Study Overview

Brief Summary

A weaning trial is a test that simulates physiological respiratory conditions after extubation in order to assess the patient's ability to breathe without the assistance of a ventilator.

This test is highly susceptible to induce dyspnea, with 62% of patients reporting a dyspnea score on VAS greater than 3.

Similarly, the prevalence of anxiety is high during weaning trials. 60% of patients treated in a respiratory weaning unit report psychological symptoms.

Dyspnea can be a traumatic experience for patients. In intensive care, up to half of patients suffer from dyspnea, which is described by patients as one of the worst memories of their stay in intensive care.

The virtual reality headset is a device that simulates a realistic, three-dimensional environment, allowing the patient to be totally immersed, so that they feel as if they are really present in a virtual world. This environment can be combined with hypnotic verbal support.

The research hypothesis is that virtual reality during a spontaneous breathing trial would relieve the respiratory discomfort induced by the weaning trial.

The secondary hypotheses are that virtual reality could reduce the anxiety associated with spontaneous breathing trials. These benefits could be associated to a reduction in ventilatory drive.

To assess dyspnea a VAS scale will be used, as the MV-RDOS scale, and the amplitude of EMG activity of inspiratory muscles.

Detailed Description

A weaning trial is a test that simulates physiological respiratory conditions after extubation in order to assess the patient's ability to breathe without the assistance of a ventilator.

This test is highly susceptible to induce dyspnea, with 62% of patients reporting a dyspnea score on VAS greater than 3.

Similarly, the prevalence of anxiety is high during weaning trials. 60% of patients treated in a respiratory weaning unit report psychological symptoms.

Dyspnea can be a traumatic experience for patients. In intensive care, up to half of patients suffer from dyspnea, which is described by patients as one of the worst memories of their stay in intensive care.

Dyspnea exposes patients to the risk of neuropsychological sequel, in particular the occurrence of post-traumatic stress.

Study Design

Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel
Primary Purpose
Supportive Care
Masking
None

Eligibility Criteria

Ages
18 Years to — (Adult, Older Adult)
Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • •Age ≥ 18 years
  • •Patients intubated and on mechanical ventilation for more than 24 hours
  • •Patients eligible for a weaning trial (resolution of acute phase of pathology, low bronchial congestion, effective cough, SpO2 > 90% with Fio2 < 40%, PEEP < 8 cmH20, respiratory rate < 40/min, haemodynamically stable)
  • •Decision by the doctor in charge to initiate a respiratory weaning trial as part of treatment
  • •RASS score between -1 and +1
  • •Patient able to answer questionnaires
  • •Informed of the study and whose free and informed written consent has been obtained
  • •Beneficiary of a social security plan (excluding AME)

Exclusion Criteria

  • •Non french speaker
  • •Acute confusion or cognitive disorders
  • •No reliable assessment of dyspnea
  • •Claustrophobia
  • •Photophobia
  • •Hearing loss
  • •Visual impairment
  • •Subject under guardianship or curatorship

Arms & Interventions

Immersive virtual reality in patient with VAS dyspnea ≥ 3

Experimental

Once included in the study, the patient will undergo a 15-minute session of mechanical ventilation followed by a 15-minute weaning trial without intervention (control period).

A respiratory discomfort VAS is performed following the spontaneous breathing trial. If the VAS is ≥ 3 cm, the patient is randomised between the intervention group (immersive virtual reality) and the control group (standard care).

The spontaneous breathing trial will be continued for a further 15 minutes in accordance with usual management, with one of the two interventions according to randomisation.

Intervention: Immersive virtual reality (Device)

Control in patient with VAS dyspnea ≥ 3

Experimental

Once included in the study, the patient will undergo a 15-minute session of mechanical ventilation followed by a 15-minute weaning trial without intervention (control period).

A respiratory discomfort VAS is performed following the spontaneous breathing trial. If the VAS is ≥ 3 cm, the patient is randomised between the intervention group (immersive virtual reality) and the control group (standard care).

The spontaneous breathing trial will be continued for a further 15 minutes in accordance with usual management, with one of the two interventions according to randomisation.

Intervention: Immersive virtual reality (Device)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Respiratory discomfort VAS

Time Frame: At inclusion (day1)

The primary endpoint is the comparison of the respiratory discomfort VAS between the intervention group (VR) and the control group (standard care) at the end of the ventilatory weaning test. Scale values:0-10, higher scores mean a worse outcome.

Secondary Outcomes

  • Effect of IVR on anxiety intensity at the end of the withdrawal test(At inclusion (day1))
  • Evaluation of the effect of virtual reality on respiratory drive assessed by the P 0.1, and EMG of scalene and parasternal muscle(At inclusion (day1))
  • Evaluation of the tolerance of virtual reality.(At inclusion (day1))
  • Evaluation of the effect of virtual reality on respiratory discomfort assessed by the MV-RDOS (Mechanical Ventilation-Respiratory Distress Observation) score(At inclusion (day1))
  • Description of the effect of virtual reality on respiratory rate and heart rate(At inclusion (day1))

Investigators

Sponsor Class
Other
Responsible Party
Sponsor

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