Use of Augmented Reality During Inhaled Induction of General Anesthesia in 3 Pediatric Patients: A Case Report.

Preoperative anxiety is common in children undergoing surgery and general anesthesia (GA). Augmented reality (AR), an interactive technology that superimposes computer-generated information on the real-world environment, can be a valuable tool to address preoperative anxiety. We describe 3 cases where AR was successfully used as a distraction technique in pediatric patients during induction of GA. Patients and parents were satisfied with the experience and described less patient anxiety as compared to previous inductions. AR can be beneficial as an adjunct or alternative to existing pharmacologic and behavioral distraction techniques for preoperative anxiety.