Developing a virtual reality simulation system for preoperative planning of thoracoscopic thoracic surgery

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Navigation
• Virtual Reality in Medicine

Background:

• Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is standard for lung cancer but has limited visualization and tactile feedback.
• Preoperative anatomical familiarization is crucial for VATS due to its minimally invasive nature.
• A novel virtual reality (VR) surgical navigation system using head-mounted displays (HMD) was developed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of a VR simulation system for preoperative planning.
• To assess the system's potential for intraoperative assistance during thoracoscopic sublobar resection.
• To investigate VR's role in improving surgical accuracy and safety.

Main Methods:

• Three-dimensional (3D) CT data was used to create patient-individualized interactive 3D reconstructions.
• BananaVision software and an HMD were utilized for displaying and interacting with the 3D models.
• Preoperative virtual resection simulations were conducted using the VR system.

Main Results:

• Surgeons achieved clear visualization of pulmonary vessels and lesion-tissue relationships.
• Preoperative simulations allowed for effective evaluation of patient anatomy, enhancing surgical planning.
• The VR system provided a unique 3D perspective for visualizing and interacting with patient data.

Conclusions:

• VR simulation with HMD effectively facilitated preoperative planning for VATS.
• Integrating VR systems with routine imaging can significantly improve preoperative planning.
• This approach holds potential to enhance the safety and accuracy of anatomic resections.