Pre-operative planning VR shows promise in helping specialists

In a recent pilot study, researchers at Stanford (Calif.) University Medical Center found the ability to use virtual reality to view and manipulate images in true 3-D noticeably improved surgeons' confidence.

The team, led by Zlatko Devcic, MD, evaluated the use of augmented VR in pre-procedural planning for endovascular repair of splenic artery aneurysms and compared its effectiveness against standard volume-rendering software. Operator's confidence in VR over SR was measured on a four-point scale, in which one represented no change and four represented significant improvement.

Surgeons used either VR or volume-rendering software for pre-operative planning on  39 arteries associated with SAA. The overall sensitivity, accuracy and positive predictive values for the VR technique were similar to that of the SR technique, but VR markedly improved operator confidence, with 93 percent receiving a score of at least three.

"SAA have complex anatomy necessitating meticulous pre-procedure planning. VR allows holographic visualization of images as if they were real physical objects, providing information critical for endovascular repair of SAA and thus significantly increasing operator confidence," the study authors wrote.

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