Worried About Your Surgery? Skip the Valium and Download the App - Forbes

Worried About Your Surgery? Skip the Valium and Download the App - Forbes

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Surgery (Photo credit: Army Medicine)

It’s the night before your surgery and you have difficulty sleeping. The thought of your operation- and the unknown- has you in panic with your mind racing. Instead of reaching for anxiety medicationâ€"ask your doctor if there is an app or video which may  help you to relax and reduce your fear and anxiety by actually letting you face the “unknown”.

Dr. Nancy Synderman of NBC news recently highlighted in a segment an evolving trend in which patients preparing for operations can view videos of their actual surgery or computer based simulations on their ipads through an app called Touchsurgery. One patient who was preparing for a heart valve replacement seemed slightly calmer after her surgeon showed her an intraoperative video of the procedure. While surgeons can use these apps to help de-mystify a procedure, they may also help build trust and confidence in patients who are filled with anxiety before a procedure.

In fact, with Touchsurgery, patients can visualize a number of computer simulated operations including removal of the gallbladder (cholycystectomy), removal of the appendix, (appendectomy), as well as common hip and shoulder surgeries.

A patient’s mental state is important before surgery-and in fact may contribute to improved

outcomes and shorter hospital stays. The advent of such apps as Touchsurgery allows patents to visualize the steps of the operation in graphic detail, taking the mystery an fear away from the actual procedureâ€"in some ways, similar to de-sensitization therapy. Combined with visual imagery and abdominal breathing exercises, such an app has the potential to have a positive impact on patient satisfaction as well as patient outcomes.

Admittedly, these graphic displays of anatomy and procedures may not be for everyone-however, when the mystery is removed, and the black box is opened, some patients may feel more informed and be able to relax before the start of their procedures.

Source Article from http://www.forbes.com/sites/robertglatter/2013/03/31/worried-about-your-surgery-skip-the-valium-and-download-the-app/