The focus of the authors’ study is the Microsoft HoloLens (HL) (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Microsoft HoloLens.
The HL uses a combination of augmented and virtual reality on a head-mounted display to relay interactive visual information to the user. The authors were attempting to show that using the HL would result in comparable, if not better, surgical outcomes to conventional visualization monitors. In this study, the surgeons were able to view the endoscope camera, the CT scan, and the fluoroscopy images all within the mounted display of the HL.
The authors tested the HL in 74 rigid ureteroscopy cases. The authors found the HL to significantly decrease the overall operative time and GRS scores (absolute difference of 4.1). Dr. Hasaneen indicated that upon pursuing feedback regarding the utility of the HL, 95% of participants agreed or strongly agreed that the HoloLens is feasible to introduce into clinical practice. Of note, these were subjective reports. There was one case that was unable to be conducted with the HL due to technical difficulties.
In sum, the HL appears to be a promising device for endoscopic surgeons in the years to come. The device seemed to shorten the overall operative time, but no other notable outcome improvements were observed. The true efficacy of the HL in endoscopy requires further investigation.
Presented by: Hasaneen Al Janabi, Medical Student, MRC Centre for transplantation, Guy’s Hospital, King’s College London, UK, London, England, United Kingdom
Co-Authors: Abdullatif Aydin, The Urology Foundation Simulation Research Fellow, MRC Centre for Transplantation, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom, Sharanya Palaneer, Student, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, Nicola Macchione, Italy, Lazio, Italy, Ahmed Al-Jabir, Medical student, GKT School of Medical Education, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom, Muhammad Shamim Khan, Consultant, Department of Urology, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, England, United Kingdom, Prokar Dasgupta, MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom, Kamran Ahmed, MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London, London, England, United Kingdom
Written by Mitchell O’Leary, Department of Urology, University of California-Irvine, medical writer for UroToday.com at the 36th World Congress of Endourology (WCE) and SWL - September 20-23, 2018 Paris, France