Augmented Reality-Based Visual Cue for Guiding Central Catheter Insertion in Pediatric Oncologic Patients

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Pediatric oncology
• Interventional radiology

Background:

• Pediatric hemato-oncologic patients require central venous catheters for chemotherapy.
• Accurate placement of the catheter tip at the cavoatrial junction is crucial.
• Current methods for locating the cavoatrial junction lack a gold standard.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a safe and accurate augmented reality (AR) technique for locating the cavoatrial junction in pediatric hemato-oncologic patients.
• To improve central venous catheter insertion accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Fifteen pediatric oncology patients underwent chest CT scans.
• Three-dimensional AR models of relevant vasculature were created.
• The cavoatrial junction was identified using AR, marked on the skin, and catheter tip positioned accordingly.
• Placement accuracy was confirmed via portable X-ray and compared to conventional methods.

Main Results:

• The mean distance from the cavoatrial junction to the AR-identified location was 1.2 cm.
• This was significantly shorter than the distance to the conventional location (1.9 cm, P=0.027).

Conclusions:

• Central venous catheter insertion using AR technology is safer and more accurate than conventional methods.
• This technique can be implemented in oncology patients without additional cost.