Application value of mixed reality in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma

3-D reconstruction in liver surgery: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional reconstruction of the liver offers several advantages to the surgeon before and during liver resection. This review discusses the factors behind the use of liver 3-D reconstruction.

METHODS

Systematic electronic search, according to PRISMA criteria, was performed. A literature search of scientific papers was performed until October 2023. Articles were chosen based on reference to 3-D liver reconstruction and their use in liver surgery. GRADE methodology and the modified Newcastle-Ottawa scale were used to assess the quality of the studies.

RESULTS

The research included 47 articles and 7724 patients were analyzed. Preoperative planning was performed with 3-D liver reconstruction in the 87.2% of the studies. Most of preoperative 3-D liver reconstructions were performed in the planning of complex or major hepatectomies. Complex hepatectomies were performed in 64.3% patients. The 55.3% of the studies reported an improved navigation and accuracy during liver resection. Four studies (8.6%) on living donor liver transplant (LDLT) concluded that 3-D liver reconstruction is useful for graft selection and vascular preservation. Nine papers (19.1%) reported an accurate measurement of future liver remnant.

CONCLUSION

Liver 3-D reconstruction helps surgeons in the planning of liver surgery, especially in liver graft and complex liver resections, increasing the accuracy of the surgical resection.

More than meets the eye: Augmented reality in surgical oncology

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

In the field of surgical oncology, there has been a desire for innovative techniques to improve tumor visualization, resection, and patient outcomes. Augmented reality (AR) technology superimposes digital content onto the real-world environment, enhancing the user's experience by blending digital and physical elements. A thorough examination of AR technology in surgical oncology has yet to be performed.

METHODS

A scoping review of intraoperative AR in surgical oncology was conducted according to the guidelines and recommendations of The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyzes Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) framework. All original articles examining the use of intraoperative AR during surgical management of cancer were included. Exclusion criteria included virtual reality applications only, preoperative use only, fluorescence, AR not specific to surgical oncology, and study design (reviews, commentaries, abstracts).

RESULTS

A total of 2735 articles were identified of which 83 were included. Most studies (52) were performed on animals or phantom models, while the remaining included patients. A total of 1112 intraoperative AR surgical cases were performed across the studies. The most common anatomic site was brain (20 articles), followed by liver (16), renal (9), and head and neck (8). AR was most often used for intraoperative navigation or anatomic visualization of tumors or critical structures but was also used to identify osteotomy or craniotomy planes.

CONCLUSIONS

AR technology has been applied across the field of surgical oncology to aid in localization and resection of tumors.

Mixed Reality Combined with Surgical Navigation in Resection of Micro- and Mini-Tumors of the Parotid Gland: A Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of mixed reality combined with surgical navigation (MRSN) in the resection of parotid micro- and mini-tumors.

METHODS

Eighteen patients who underwent parotid tumor resection between December 2020 and November 2022 were included. Six patients were enrolled in MRSN group, and the surgeons performed the surgery with the help of MRSN technology. The surgical procedures include virtual planning, data transfer between mixed reality and surgical navigation, tumor localization and resection assisted by surgical navigation under mixed reality environment. Twelve patients were enrolled in control group, and intraoperative tumor localization and resection were performed according to the experience of the surgeon. Total surgery time and intraoperative bleeding were recorded. Perioperative complications were recorded during follow-up.

RESULTS

The mean surgery time of MRSN group (76.7 ± 14.0 min) and control group (65.4 ± 21.3 min) showed no significant difference (p = 0.220), so did the intraoperative bleeding of MRSN group (16.0 ± 8.0 mL) and control group (16.7 ± 6.6 mL) (p = 0.825). None of the patient in MRSN group underwent any complication, although one patient in control group suffered temporary facial paralysis. The mean deviation between the virtually marked and the intraoperative actual outermost point of tumor was 3.03 ± 0.83 mm.

CONCLUSION

MRSN technology can realize real-time three-dimensional visualization of the tumor, and it has the potential of enhancing the safety and accuracy of resection of micro- and mini-tumors of parotid gland.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

4 Laryngoscope, 134:1670-1678, 2024.

A meta-analysis of the three-dimensional reconstruction visualization technology for hepatectomy

This meta-analysis was conducted to systematically evaluate the short-term efficacy and safety of the three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction visualization technology (3D-RVT) technique for hepatectomy. A systematic literature search was used to gather information on the 3D reconstruction visualization technology technique for hepatectomy from retrospective cohort studies and comparative studies. The retrieval period was up to March 2022. Publications and conference papers in English were manually searched and references in bibliographies traced. After evaluating the quality of selected studies, a meta-analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.1 software. We included 12 studies comprising 2053 patients with liver disease. Our meta-results showed that 3D-RVT significantly shortened operation times [weighted mean differences (WMD) = -29.36; 95% confidence interval (CI): -55.20 to -3.51; P = 0.03], reduced intraoperative bleeding [WMD = -93.53; 95% CI: -152.32 to -34.73; P = 0.002], reduced blood transfusion volume [WMD = -66.06; 95% CI: -109.13 to -22.99; P = 0.003], and shortened hospital stays [WMD = -1.90; 95% CI: -3.05 to -0.74; P = 0.001]. Additionally, the technique reduced the use of hepatic inflow occlusion and avoided overall postoperative complications [odds ratio (OR) = 0.60; 95% CI: 0.46 to 0.79; P < 0.001]. 3D-RVT is safe and effective for liver surgery and provides safety assessments before anatomical hepatectomy.

Mixed Reality in Modern Surgical and Interventional Practice: Narrative Review of the Literature

BACKGROUND

Mixed reality (MR) and its potential applications have gained increasing interest within the medical community over the recent years. The ability to integrate virtual objects into a real-world environment within a single video-see-through display is a topic that sparks imagination. Given these characteristics, MR could facilitate preoperative and preinterventional planning, provide intraoperative and intrainterventional guidance, and aid in education and training, thereby improving the skills and merits of surgeons and residents alike.

OBJECTIVE

In this narrative review, we provide a broad overview of the different applications of MR within the entire spectrum of surgical and interventional practice and elucidate on potential future directions.

METHODS

A targeted literature search within the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases was performed regarding the application of MR within surgical and interventional practice. Studies were included if they met the criteria for technological readiness level 5, and as such, had to be validated in a relevant environment.

RESULTS

A total of 57 studies were included and divided into studies regarding preoperative and interventional planning, intraoperative and interventional guidance, as well as training and education.

CONCLUSIONS

The overall experience with MR is positive. The main benefits of MR seem to be related to improved efficiency. Limitations primarily seem to be related to constraints associated with head-mounted display. Future directions should be aimed at improving head-mounted display technology as well as incorporation of MR within surgical microscopes, robots, and design of trials to prove superiority.

Hyper accuracy three-dimensional (HA3D™) technology for planning complex liver resections: a preliminary single center experience

Three-dimensional visualization technology (3DVT) has been recently introduced to achieve a precise preoperative planning of liver surgery. The aim of this observational study was to assess the accuracy of 3DVT for complex liver resections. 3DVT with hyper accuracy three-dimensional (HA3D™) technology was introduced at our institution on February 2020. Anatomical characteristics were collected from two-dimensional imaging (2DI) and 3DVT, while intraoperative and postoperative outcomes were recorded prospectively. A total of 62 patients were enrolled into the study. 3DVT was able to study tumor extension and liver anatomy, identifying at least one vascular variation in 37 patients (59.7%). Future remnant liver volume (FRLV) was measured using 2DI and 3DVT. The paired samples t test assessed positive correlation between the two methods (p < 0.001). At least one vessel was suspected to be invaded by the tumor in 8 (15.7%) 2DI cases vs 16 (31.4%) 3DVT cases, respectively. During surgery, vascular invasion was detected in 17 patients (33.3%). A total of 73 surgical procedures were proposed basing on 2DI, including 2 alternatives for 16 patients. After 3DVT, the previously planned procedure was changed in 15 cases (29.4%), due to the clearer information provided. A total of 51 patients (82%) underwent surgery. The most frequent procedure was right hepatectomy (33.3%), followed by left hepatectomy (23.5%) and left trisectionectomy (13.7%). Vascular resection and reconstruction were performed in 10 patients (19.6%) and portal vein was resected in more than half of these cases (66.7%). 3DVT leads to a more detailed and tailored approach to complex liver surgery, improving surgeons' knowledge of liver anatomy and accuracy of liver resection.

Advances and Innovations in Ablative Head and Neck Oncologic Surgery Using Mixed Reality Technologies in Personalized Medicine

The benefit of computer-assisted planning in head and neck ablative and reconstructive surgery has been extensively documented over the last decade. This approach has been proven to offer a more secure surgical procedure. In the treatment of cancer of the head and neck, computer-assisted surgery can be used to visualize and estimate the location and extent of the tumor mass. Nowadays, some software tools even allow the visualization of the structures of interest in a mixed reality environment. However, the precise integration of mixed reality systems into a daily clinical routine is still a challenge. To date, this technology is not yet fully integrated into clinical settings such as the tumor board, surgical planning for head and neck tumors, or medical and surgical education. As a consequence, the handling of these systems is still of an experimental nature, and decision-making based on the presented data is not yet widely used. The aim of this paper is to present a novel, user-friendly 3D planning and mixed reality software and its potential application for ablative and reconstructive head and neck surgery.