Virtual Reality Versus Intravenous Dexmedetomidine on Maternal Anxiety, Stress, Hemodynamics, and Neonatal Outcomes During Cesarean Section

Benha University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Maternal Anxiety; Cesarean Section; Dexmedetomidine; Neonatal Outcomes; Virtual Reality; Hemodynamics; Stress

Treatments: Other: Virtual reality; Drug: Dexmedetomidine

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07343843

MS.29.12.2025

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to compare the efficacy of intravenous dexmedetomidine infusion versus virtual reality (VR) in reducing maternal anxiety, stress, and hemodynamic instability during cesarean section and their effects on neonatal outcome as respiration and heart rate.

Full description

Cesarean section (CS) is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide, with steadily increasing rates across both developed and developing countries.

Dexmedetomidine, a highly selective α₂-adrenergic receptor agonist, has been increasingly utilized in obstetric anesthesia because of its anxiolytic, sedative, and analgesic properties with minimal respiratory depression.

Non-pharmacological interventions, such as virtual reality (VR), have emerged as innovative strategies for perioperative anxiety management. VR provides immersive distraction, thereby modulating pain perception and reducing stress.

Enrollment: 52 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Age over 18 years old.
• American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status II.
• Scheduled for elective cesarean section (CS) delivery under Central Neuraxial Blockade.
• Provide informed consent and agree to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Patient's refusal
• Patient known have contraindications for Regional Anesthesia as infection at the site of injection, severe coagulopathy or allergy to local anesthetics.
• Patient with psychiatric disorders.
• Sensory impairment (blindness, deafness).
• Any technical problem preventing proper fitting of the glasses to the patient face.
• Patients with cognitive impairment, epilepsy or with claustrophobia
• Patients with suspected eye infection
• Signs of active labor.
• Pregnancy related-diseases or antepartum hemorrhage.
• Presence of Fetal distress.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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52 participants in 2 patient groups

Dexmedetomidine group

Experimental group

Description:

Following confirmation of adequate spinal anesthesia, dexmedetomidine will be administered as an intravenous infusion of 0.2-0.4µg/kg/hr until abdominal closure.

Treatment:

Drug: Dexmedetomidine

Virtual reality group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will be fitted with virtual reality headsets immediately after the establishment of spinal anesthesia. The headsets will display calming immersive audiovisual content, and participants will continue wearing them throughout the entire procedure until skin closure.

Treatment:

Other: Virtual reality