[The use of augmented reality technologies in urological practice]

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Surgical Technology
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Augmented reality (AR) is a transformative technology in modern urology, integrating virtual 3D models with the real operating environment.
• AR enhances surgical planning, intraoperative navigation, and training, offering potential improvements in procedural accuracy, invasiveness, and clinical outcomes, especially in robotic and laparoscopic procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and analyze current data on AR applications in urological surgery.
• To assess the clinical efficiency of AR technologies in surgical planning, intraoperative navigation, and training.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of publications from 2019-2023 was conducted.
• Searches were performed in PubMed, Scopus, and IEEE Xplore databases.
• Included studies were clinical reports, technical reports, and reviews with quantitative data on AR/VR in urological surgery or training (n=26).

Main Results:

• AR/VR platforms significantly improve surgical skills in training, reducing procedure time and errors while increasing accuracy.
• In renal surgery, AR navigation is linked to reduced blood loss, shorter operative times, and fewer complications.
• For prostate surgery, AR enhances tumor and neurovascular bundle identification, reduces positive surgical margins, and improves functional outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality has proven clinical relevance in urology, enhancing surgical accuracy, safety, and outcomes while transforming training.
• Future directions include AI integration for navigation, development of digital twins, hybrid AR/VR platforms, and cloud solutions.
• Large-scale randomized trials are necessary to validate long-term effectiveness and cost-effectiveness, overcoming current technical and economic barriers.