VIRTUAL REALITY IN CARDIAC REHABILITATION AFTER OPEN HEART SURGERY IN CHILDREN: A REVIEW ARTICLE

ABSTRACT
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, affecting 0.8–0.95% of live births worldwide. It causes a range of symptoms from excessive sweating and fatigue to more severe complications like heart failure and pulmonary hypertension. Although surgery improves survival rates, many children have neurological, motor, and developmental impairments after surgical correction. Even after successful heart surgeries, children with CHD often suffer from different symptoms like pain, breathing difficulties, decrease functional capacity, delayed physical development and in some cases complex defects may require heart transplants.. Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) significantly improve physical, psychological, and social recovery in children post-surgery. Within 24-48 hours of surgery early rehabilitation is crucial. The early Phase of CR focuses on mobilization and pain management, while later phases aim to improve strength and endurance.
Virtual Reality (VR) in pediatric rehabilitation is game-like environments that improve motivation and focus. It can help manage pain and anxiety, offering both distraction and therapeutic benefits during rehabilitation. VR provides a corrective psychological and physiological environment.