Guided Visualization for Anesthesia

Overseen By Omid Akramian, DMD

Age: Any Age

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Alameda Health System

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairments, Severe psychiatric disease, others

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

300 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether a short guided visualization exercise can improve the anesthesia experience during oral and maxillofacial surgery. Researchers compare two groups: one uses guided visualization (a relaxation technique) with the usual pre-surgery instructions, while the other receives only the standard instructions. They measure patient comfort, medication usage, and sedation duration. This trial suits individuals undergoing dental surgery with intravenous sedation in a clinic who can understand English or use an interpreter. As an unphased trial, it offers participants a unique opportunity to contribute to innovative research that could enhance surgical experiences.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that guided visualization is safe for anesthesia-related outcomes?

Research has shown that guided visualization is generally safe and well-tolerated. In studies on guided imagery, a similar method, participants reported no serious side effects. For instance, one study found that guided imagery helped patients manage pain effectively without causing harm. Another study with patients on breathing machines showed that guided imagery reduced the need for sedation without any negative effects. This evidence suggests that guided visualization should be safe to use during anesthesia in oral surgery. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about guided visualization for anesthesia because it offers a non-pharmacological approach to easing patients into sedation. Unlike traditional anesthesia methods that rely heavily on medications, guided visualization uses mental imagery to help patients relax before procedures. This technique could reduce the amount of sedative drugs needed, potentially minimizing side effects and speeding up recovery times. By integrating guided visualization with standard pre-sedation instructions, there's hope for a more holistic approach to anesthesia that enhances patient comfort and safety.

What evidence suggests that guided visualization is effective for anesthesia-related outcomes?

Research has shown that guided visualization can greatly reduce anxiety and pain for patients undergoing surgery. In this trial, one group will receive guided visualization along with standardized pre-sedation instructions. Studies have found that patients who used guided imagery felt less anxious before and after surgery. It also reduced their need for sedation and pain relief medication. Additionally, guided imagery improved their overall comfort during medical procedures. These findings suggest that guided visualization can make the anesthesia experience less stressful and easier to handle. ^{1 3 6 7 8}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients scheduled for oral and maxillofacial surgery under ambulatory anesthesia. Participants must be eligible to receive intravenous anesthesia without any conditions that would complicate sedation or recovery.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to understand verbal English or understand instructions using a sign-language or voice interpreter of their native language

I am scheduled for sedation during oral surgery.

I am between 8 and 70 years old.

Exclusion Criteria

Subjects who cannot understand the instructions, even with an interpreter (extremes of age, cognitive impairments, severe psychiatric disease that may affect participation)

I will not be receiving sedation through an IV for my procedure.

I will undergo anesthesia in a specialized medical setting.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Pre-sedation

Participants receive either standardized pre-sedation instructions or a guided visualization exercise in addition to the instructions

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Sedation and Surgery

Participants undergo sedation and oral/maxillofacial surgery with outcomes measured during and after the procedure

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for anesthesia-related outcomes and complete the Anesthesia Experience Survey

Within 2 hours post-surgery

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Guided visualization

Trial Overview The study tests if adding a guided visualization exercise to standard pre-sedation instructions improves patient outcomes compared to just the instructions. Outcomes include patient experience, pain scores, medication use, and sedation duration.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Guided visualization and standardized pre-sedation instructions group Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

This arm will receive standardized pre-sedation instructions, as well as one-minute guided visualization.

Group II: Standardized pre-sedation instructions only group Placebo Group 1 Intervention

This group will receive the standardized pre-sedation instructions only, with no guided visualization.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Alameda Health System

Lead Sponsor

Trials

9

Recruited

4,100+

University of California, San Francisco

Collaborator

Trials

2,636

Recruited

19,080,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

The study reviewed 600 medical charts across three facilities to evaluate the accuracy of a voluntary adverse event reporting process in anesthesia, finding a low per-item error rate of 0.3%.

The overall per-patient error rate was 6.3%, indicating that while there are still errors, the lower rates compared to previous studies suggest that nonpunitive voluntary reporting may improve the accuracy of anesthesia care reporting.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A multisite validity study of self-reported anesthesia outcomes. Walker, P., Pekmezaris, R., Lesser, ML., et al.[2019]

Analyzing patient outcomes from the Anesthesia Quality Institute's registry can help identify high-risk patients and procedures, ultimately reducing mortality and morbidity in office-based anesthesia practices.

Implementing increased regulation, standardization of care, and continuous quality improvement measures, such as checklists and electronic health records, can enhance the safety and efficacy of anesthesia practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Initial results from the National Anesthesia Clinical Outcomes Registry and overview of office-based anesthesia. Shapiro, FE., Jani, SR., Liu, X., et al.[2014]

Recent innovations in ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia, such as mechanical needle guides and compound imaging technology, enhance needle visibility and alignment, improving the accuracy of injections.

Techniques like sonoelastography and advancements in 3D and 4D ultrasound provide better tissue discrimination and fluid detection, which could lead to safer and more effective anesthesia practices.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Seeing more : Technical innovations in regional anesthesia]. Wiesmann, T., Steinfeldt, T., Volk, T., et al.[2018]

The study developed a mixed reality system using the Microsoft HoloLens to project a hologram of the ideal needle path for neuraxial anesthesia, which helps operators replicate the correct needle angulation during procedures.

Preliminary testing with both novice and experienced anesthesiologists showed that they could quickly learn to use this holographic guidance effectively on lumbar spine phantoms, indicating potential for improved accuracy in real procedures, although further research is needed to assess safety and efficacy.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Development of a Head-Mounted Holographic Needle Guidance System for Enhanced Ultrasound-Guided Neuraxial Anesthesia: System Development and Observational Evaluation. Tanwani, J., Alam, F., Matava, C., et al.[2022]

The development of an augmented reality (AR) guidance system for anesthetic nerve blocks significantly improved needle placement accuracy, achieving a mean deviation of only 0.57 mm from target locations compared to 5.77 mm with traditional ultrasound alone.

This AR system, when combined with real-time ultrasound and tracked tools, has the potential to reduce the need for radiation-based imaging techniques like CT and fluoroscopy, thereby lowering radiation exposure for both patients and healthcare providers.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Image guidance for spinal facet injections using tracked ultrasound. Moore, J., Clarke, C., Bainbridge, D., et al.[2019]

Ultrasound guidance in regional anesthesia allows for better visualization of needle placement and the spread of local anesthetics, which can help reduce the required volume of anesthetic needed for effective surgical anesthesia.

Studies indicate that using ultrasound guidance can lead to a decrease in local anesthetic dosage compared to traditional methods like blind or electrical nerve stimulation techniques, although the exact minimum effective dose for each block remains unclear.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Minimum anesthetic volume in regional anesthesia by using ultrasound-guidance. Di Filippo, A., Falsini, S., Adembri, C.[2017]

In a study involving 15 novice trainees performing 30 simulated sciatic nerve blocks, it was found that on average, about 28 procedures are needed for trainees to achieve competency in ultrasound needle visualization skills.

The study revealed significant variability in individual learning curves, with later participants showing a higher likelihood of success, indicating that experience and feedback play crucial roles in developing these skills.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia: how much practice do novices require before achieving competency in ultrasound needle visualization using a cadaver model. Barrington, MJ., Wong, DM., Slater, B., et al.[2019]

From 2010 to 2015, a review of 2544 adverse events in pediatric anesthesia revealed that the most common issues were cardiac arrests (31.6%), respiratory complications (29.2%), and medication errors (16.9%).

A striking 85% of anesthesia-related serious adverse events were considered preventable, highlighting the need for innovations focused on reducing medication errors to enhance patient safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcomes from wake up safe, the pediatric anesthesia quality improvement initiative. Haché, M., Sun, LS., Gadi, G., et al.[2021]

In a study of 110,310 anesthetic procedures involving 65,985 patients, 3,904 critical incidents were reported, indicating a 3.5% incidence rate of complications during anesthesia.

The most common critical incidents included technical difficulties with regional anesthesia, hypotension, and unexpected difficult intubation, highlighting key areas for improving patient safety and informing future reporting systems.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Reporting critical incidents in a tertiary hospital: a historical cohort study of 110,310 procedures. Munting, KE., van Zaane, B., Schouten, AN., et al.[2018]

A study analyzing 2,087 adverse events from pediatric anesthesia over six years identified 276 medication errors, primarily involving opioids and sedatives, with the majority occurring during the administration phase.

Most medication errors were deemed preventable, suggesting that implementing strategies like prefilled syringes, bar-coding, and two-person checks could significantly reduce these errors and enhance patient safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Medication Errors in Pediatric Anesthesia: A Report From the Wake Up Safe Quality Improvement Initiative. Lobaugh, LMY., Martin, LD., Schleelein, LE., et al.[2022]

Citations

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Meditation for perioperative pain and anxiety: A systematic ... The results showed significant improvements in anxiety scores for patients who had received guided imagery meditation on a compact disc (CD) ...

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The Effects of Guided Imagery on Patients Being Weaned ... The study purpose was to assess the effects of guided imagery on sedation levels, sedative and analgesic volume consumption, and physiological responses

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Guided and motor imagery for pain management ... The primary aim of this study, hence, was to assess the effectiveness of a GMI exercises on client-centered outcomes during rehabilitation after total hip or ...

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Guided Visualization for Anesthesia This randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the impact of a brief guided visualization exercise on anesthesia-related outcomes in oral and ...

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A Meta-Analysis of the Effect of Guided Imagery Practice on ... It has been suggested that better outcomes will occur with continued practice. No studies were found that examined the relationship between ...