Enhancing surgical training through immersive and interactive virtual reality experiences in robotic surgery

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Technology
• Virtual Reality Applications

Background:

• Robotic-assisted surgery offers significant advantages in minimally invasive procedures.
• Widespread adoption requires comprehensive training for surgical teams.
• Existing training methods may not fully prepare surgeons for complex robotic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce an innovative immersive virtual reality (VR) training experience for robotic-assisted surgery.
• To provide a detailed overview of the VR simulation's design and content.
• To highlight the potential of VR in enhancing surgical education.

Main Methods:

• Developed a three-part immersive VR experience using 360° recordings and editing software.
• Included navigation familiarization, in-depth operating room insights, and critical procedure step highlights.
• Designed for accessibility on head-mounted devices (HDMs) with an optional 2D mode.

Main Results:

• The VR experience offers interactive learning on surgical knowledge, strategies, and instrumentation.
• It effectively conveys key surgical elements for thoracic (lobectomy) and bariatric (duodenal switch) procedures.
• The VR training is downloadable and functional on various HDMs, offering versatility.

Conclusions:

• Immersive VR training holds significant potential for advancing surgical education, particularly for complex robotic procedures.
• This technology can help bridge the skill gap between novice and expert surgeons.
• Further research is needed to evaluate the VR tool's acceptability, effectiveness, usability, and utility.