Virtual Reality in the Intensive Care Unit to improve Noninvasive Ventilation Tolerance: a case report

Purpose: This case report describes the use of virtual reality (VR) to improve noninvasive ventilation (NIV) tolerance in the intensive care unit (ICU). Clinical Features A 65-yr-old man was admitted to the ICU with hypercapnic respiratory failure resulting from an acute exacerbation of COPD. He had type-2 diabetes mellitus and post-smoking COPD but no history of psychiatric disease. Carbon dioxide narcosis required NIV and resulted in the recovery of normal consciousness. However, the tolerance and comfort of the patient during the 1-hour sessions repeated twice a day were moderate, leading us to propose virtual reality to improve his well-being. To combine VR with NIV, a Bridge-free NIV mask was necessary. The tolerability of NIV was significantly improved and the patient was very satisfied and enthusiastic, demonstrating the possibility of effectively combining VR with NIV to improve patient well-being. Conclusions: This case paves the way to combine advantageously VR with NIV to improve the well-being of ICU patients.