An Ohio nurse practitioner and clinical researcher created a breath-controlled video game that makes going under anesthesia less stressful for kids.

Hess works closely with kids about to undergo surgery through her role with the Department of Anesthesia at Cincinnati Children’s, and she also spends time focused on research.

Cincinnati Children's is the first medical center in the United States to pilot a video game to help children relax when they need to receive anesthesia before falling asleep for surgery.

The researcher in the Department of Anesthesia explains the game features cartoon animals that children move around by breathing into a mask. Pediatric patients start practicing while still in pre-op.

This led her to inventing EZ Induction, a breathing controlled video game app used when it is time to put on the anesthesia mask.

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An Ohio nurse practitioner and clinical researcher created a breath-controlled video game that makes going under anesthesia less stressful for kids.

The game features cartoon animals that children are able to move by breathing into a mask and helps reduce anxiety during the anesthesia-induction process, the hospital says.