Flint, Paul W.

ObjectiveTo examine implementation of virtual reality (VR) and Fitbit wearable activity devices in postoperative recovery.MethodsThis was a prospective, 4‐arm, randomized controlled trial of patients undergoing inpatient head and neck surgery at a tertiary academic center from November 2021 to July 2022. Patients were randomized to Control, VR, Fitbit, or combined VR + Fitbit groups. Patients in the VR groups were brought VR headsets to use throughout each day, and patients in the Fitbit groups wore Fitbit devices and were encouraged to achieve 2,000 daily steps. The primary outcome was average daily opioid use, measured as milligram morphine equivalents (MME).ResultsThere were 80 patients included. The majority of patients were male (68.8%), and mean age was 58.8 ± 14.4 years. Only the combined VR + Fitbit cohort was associated with reduced average daily opioid use (VR + Fitbit: 8.8 [20.6] MME vs. Control: 26.4 [37.4] MME, p = 0.02). Patients in intervention groups also had higher hospital satisfaction (p = 0.02). VR was utilized 26% of the time it was provided, with mean use time of 23.8 ± 7.8 min. Mean post‐VR subjective pain reduction was 1.0 ± 1.3, and there were three mild adverse events of neck or nasal discomfort. Among the Fitbit groups, there were no adverse events and daily step counts ≥2,000 steps were achieved 45% of the time.ConclusionImplementation of VR and wearable activity devices in postoperative recovery appears well tolerated and may facilitate further development of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) protocols, though there are challenges to maximizing device usage.Level of Evidence2 Laryngoscope, 135:2044–2050, 2025

Abstract Giant fibrovascular polyp of the esophagus is a rare but dramatic entity. These large polyps arise in the proximal esophagus and can cause airway obstruction secondary to mechanical pressure on the larynx, or they can present as a mass that is regurgitated into the oral cavity. We present a 66-year-old man who complained of nausea and vomiting that were associated with a fibrovascular polyp protruding into the mouth. He had also experienced several episodes of syncope resulting from intermittent airway obstruction. He underwent an open resection of an 11.8-cm fibrovascular polyp and an endoscopic resection of a second fibrovascular polyp 2 days later. Histopathologically, both masses were composed of a mixture of mature adipose tissue lobules and fibrovascular tissue, lined by reactive squamous epithelium. Despite their large size, giant fibrovascular polyps should be recognized radiologically and pathologically as benign lesions. However, they can result in significant morbidity.