Extended and augmented reality in vascular surgery: Opportunities and challenges

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Extended Reality (XR)
• Augmented Reality (AR)

Background:

• Extended reality (XR) encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality.
• XR technologies are increasingly used in medical fields for visualization and analysis.
• Applications span surgical practice, education, and training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current applications of XR and AR in vascular surgery.
• To highlight the potential benefits of these technologies in vascular surgery.
• To identify pitfalls, limitations, and areas for future improvement.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of extended reality and augmented reality applications in vascular surgery.
• Analysis of reported benefits, challenges, and future perspectives.

Main Results:

• XR and AR present novel opportunities for medical imaging visualization and analysis in vascular surgery.
• Applications in surgical practice, education, and training are emerging.
• Specific benefits, pitfalls, and limitations are discussed.

Conclusions:

• Extended reality and augmented reality hold significant promise for advancing vascular surgery.
• Further research and development are needed to overcome current limitations.
• These technologies are poised to transform medical imaging and surgical training.