Augmented reality visualization for ultrasound-guided interventions: a pilot randomized crossover trial to assess...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Augmented Reality in Healthcare
• Ultrasound-Guided Procedures

Background:

• Augmented reality (AR) with head-mounted displays (HMD) offers innovation in medical training for invasive procedures.
• Novice physicians struggle with landmark identification and procedural execution in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS).
• AR visual overlays aim to enhance physician training for ultrasound-guided interventions and assess cognitive load.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the effectiveness of AR visual overlays in enhancing physician training for ultrasound-guided interventions.
• To compare the cognitive load between traditional ultrasound training and AR-assisted training settings.

Main Methods:

• A randomized crossover study (2021-2022) compared AR-HMD ultrasound (AR-US) with standard ultrasound (S-US) for central venous catheter (CVC) placement.
• 47 trainees (medical students and postgraduate physicians) with basic ultrasound-guided CVC training but no AR-US experience participated.
• Performance was assessed via time measurements, and cognitive load was evaluated using the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX).

Main Results:

• AR technology reduced critical step times and neck strain during CVC placement.
• Trainees using AR-US showed faster anatomical identification and vein localization, with female trainees outperforming males.
• AR-US use trended towards lower mental workload and significantly reduced effort and frustration scores for junior and female trainees.

Conclusions:

• AR technology significantly improved trainee performance and reduced cognitive load in ultrasound-guided CVC placement.
• AR-HMDs are a valuable tool for enhancing medical education in ultrasound-guided interventional procedures.
• Findings support the integration of AR technology to improve physician training efficacy.