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Collaborative Virtual Reality Real-Time 3D Image Editing for Chest Wall Resections and Reconstruction Planning
Philipp Feodorovici1, Philipp Schnorr2, Benedetta Bedetti2
1Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of General, Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Bonn, Germany.
Innovations (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|December 11, 2023
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) enhances preoperative planning for chest wall resections in thoracic surgery. This immersive technology offers better anatomical insights and personalized surgical strategies, potentially improving outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medical Technology
- Surgical Innovation
- Computer-Assisted Surgery
Background:
- Extended reality (XR) technologies offer transformative potential in healthcare, especially for surgical procedures.
- Virtual reality (VR) is emerging as a powerful tool for enhancing surgical planning and execution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate the application of a collaborative VR-planning tool for preoperative planning in thoracic surgery, specifically for chest wall resections.
- To explore the potential benefits of immersive, real-time, volume-rendered VR in complex surgical cases.
Main Methods:
- Utilized 3-dimensional (3D) imaging and real-time visualization within a collaborative VR environment.
- Applied an immersive, real-time, volume-rendered collaborative VR-planning tool.
- Demonstrated the technique using two clinical case studies of chest wall surgery.
Main Results:
- The VR approach provided enhanced anatomical insights and facilitated predictive surgical strategy development.
- The collaborative VR environment enabled teams from separate locations to interact with patient data dynamically.
- Preliminary evidence suggests VR may support refined preoperative strategies and optimize resource management.
Conclusions:
- VR offers significant potential for personalized and intricate surgical planning in thoracic surgery.
- The technology shows promise for improving postoperative outcomes and resource management, though further validation is needed.
- XR, particularly collaborative VR in the metaverse, represents a shift toward future surgical preparations, especially for complex, multidisciplinary cases.
