Clinical Research Directory
Browse clinical research sites, groups, and studies.
Virtual Reality Hypnosis as Sedation During Oocyte Retrieval: Effect on Propofol Consumption
Sponsor: Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc- Université Catholique de Louvain
Summary
An egg retrieval is performed during an IVF course. This painful procedure is performed using sedation to ensure patient comfort. A combination of sedative and analgesic medications combined with local anesthesia (paracervical block) is used. Propofol, the intravenous anesthetic of choice (rapid-acting and short-acting), and remifentanil (an ultra-short-acting opioid analgesic) are generally combined. The potential impact of these agents used for egg retrieval on egg fertilization and embryo quality is of interest. Indeed, certain drugs such as propofol could accumulate in the follicular fluid. The few studies conducted to date show contradictory results. While a harmful effect appears to be reported in experimental studies on mice, this effect is uncertain in clinical studies. Given this uncertainty, any method aimed at reducing propofol consumption in this context may be of interest. Virtual reality hypnosis (VRH) is a digital tool that has already been shown to be effective in reducing preoperative anxiety during oocyte retrieval. Furthermore, VRH has also demonstrated analgesic effects. The primary objective of this study is to compare VRH with a control group (usual sedation) on propofol consumption during oocyte retrieval. Secondary objectives are to compare preoperative anxiety, APAIS score, catastrophizing score, remifentanil consumption, intra- and/or post-operative nausea and vomiting, post-procedural analgesic consumption, time perception during the procedure, fertilization parameters, and pregnancy rate at 12 weeks. The degrees of absorption, dissociation, immersion, and presence for the VRH group will also be noted.
Official title: Virtual Reality Hypnosis as Sedation During Oocyte Retrieval: Effect on Propofol Consumption: a Randomized Study (VRH-IVF)
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
18 Years - 42 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
72
Start Date
2025-09-01
Completion Date
2027-02-01
Last Updated
2025-08-11
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
virtual reality hypnosis device
VRH group, in which patients will receive conventional sedation (remifentanil 0.1 mcg/kg/min and propofol 0.5 mg/kg if necessary) and a Virtual Reality headset with an environment chosen by the patient and hypnosis support with suggestions to reduce their anxiety.