Enhancing Surgical Resident Education Through Augmented Reality: A Pilot Study Using 3D Holograms to Delineate Renal Vascular Anatomy

Abstract

Background

Augmented reality offers multiple enhanced diagnostic imaging visualization opportunities. The objective of this pilot study was to assess the applicability of HoloLens augmented reality in resident education.

Methods

34 categorical general surgery residents, postgraduate years (PGY) 1-5, reviewed a CTA and 3D hologram on Intravision XR using the Microsoft HoloLens 2 of the renal anatomy of 2 donor nephrectomy patients. Residents were randomized into 2 groups altering which modality was visualized first then described their findings and answered a device usability questionnaire.

Results

45.5% PGY-1s, 75% PGY-2s, and 86.7% PGY-3-5s correctly identified the pathology on the HoloLens compared with 45.5%, 50%, and 86.7%, respectively, on the CTA. 84% of participants appreciated improved visualization of the illustrated pathology with AR. 82% of participants stated an improved view of the vasculature using the HoloLens model. 25% of residents preferred using the HoloLens to traditional CT imaging.

Conclusions

Despite being unable to obtain statistically significant results due to sample size, we observed that HoloLens renderings were non-inferior to conventional CT scans when it came to residents detecting pathology on an imaging study and superior at the PGY-2 level with an increasing preference towards use of the HoloLens with more senior PGY levels. This technology may assist residents in getting a fresh perspective on imaging studies and anatomical variations and improve resident education.