These virtual reality models were viewed using a head-mounted Oculus Rift display connected to a VR-ready laptop. Once the user has mounted the display, they are able to manipulate the virtual reality anatomy models using both hand motions detected by a Leap Motion sensor as well as with wireless physical controllers.
A software called 3D Slicer was used by the team to manually created the virtual reality models using CT DICOM files. All models were viewed by four expert surgeons as well as the patients who rated their experience and understanding of the anatomy prior to a PCNL procedure.
Figure 1: iVR model a) “ghosted” view of anatomy with surgeon’s hand visible (silver) and yellow stone (red arrows); b) posterior view of anatomy and planned nephrostomy tract (green dashed arrow); c) view of the planned upper pole calyx of entry (dashed arrow); d) traversing the upper pole calyx (red dashed arrow)
The surgeons rated the virtual reality models to be a valuable surgical planning tool and indicated that they correlated well with the actual surgical anatomy. Patients also strongly agreed that the iVR experience improved their understanding of PCNL and reduced their preoperative anxiety.
Dr. Parkhomenko concluded that these immersive virtual reality models significantly helped surgeons better understand the renal and stone anatomy prior to PCNL and stated that it had resulted in an alteration of the surgical approach in 40% of cases. It also improved patient comprehension and comfort with the planned surgery.
Presented by: Egor Parkhomenko, University of California, Irvine
Authors: Egor Parkhomenko, Shoaib Safiullah, Mitchell O’Leary, Michael Owyong, Sartaaj Walia, Ryan James, Cyrus Lin, Roshan M. Patel, Kamaljot S. Kaler, Jaime Landman, Ralph V. Clayman
Affiliation: University of California, Irvine
Written by: Renai Yoon, medical writer for UroToday at the 36th World Congress of Endourology (WCE) and SWL - September 20-23, 2018 Paris, France