Virtual Reality as an Anxiolytic and Analgesic in Interventional Radiology Procedures: An Evidence-Based…

ReviewCardiovascular and interventional radiology· Aug 2026

Virtual Reality as an Anxiolytic and Analgesic in Interventional Radiology Procedures: An Evidence-Based Review and Practical Framework.

Moaz Alowami, Dhanyal Khan, Ashar Siddiqui … Syed Umair Mahmood

Interventional RadiologyReviewQ1IF 1.9

Virtual reality reduced patient-reported pain during peripheral arterial angioplasty in a randomized trial.

Virtual Reality as an Anxiolytic and Analgesic in Interventional Radiology Procedures: An Evidence-Based Review and Practical Framework.

Moaz Alowami … Syed Umair Mahmood

Cardiovascular and interventional radiology · Aug 2026 · Q1 in Radiology

Purpose

To evaluate the clinical efficacy, mechanisms, and feasibility of immersive virtual reality (virtual reality) as a non-pharmacological anxiolytic and analgesic in interventional radiology (interventional radiology).

Methods

Prospective pilot studies and randomized controlled trials that evaluated virtual reality as an intraprocedural anxiolytic or analgesic modality during percutaneous or endovascular interventions were included.

n = 120 patients

Results

vr users reported less intraprocedural pain than controls

VR

6.23VAS pa

Control

8.03VAS pa

More results

Analysis of 9 clinical trials demonstrated substantial reductions in procedural distress.

“

Conclusion

Virtual reality is an effective, sedation-sparing digital tool for short, simple interventional radiology procedures. Application in complex, long endovascular cases remains investigational.

Virtual Reality as an Anxiolytic and Analgesic in Interventional Radiology Procedures: An Evidence-Based Review and Practical Framework.

Virtual Reality as an Anxiolytic and Analgesic in Interventional Radiology Procedures: An Evidence-Based Review and Practical Framework.

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