Introduction
Virtual reality is defined as the use of computer technology to create a simulated environment that can be experienced by the user. It helps to enhance the skills of the surgeon by providing immersive, hands-on training that resembles an operating room environment. Virtual reality platforms are portable training setups that can be used anywhere and at any time.
Virtual reality is one of the numerous enhancements in surgery that have emerged as a result of technological advancement. It is an affordable and accessible technique that has helped increase its usage in the healthcare system. The development of wearable technologies provides high-quality audio-visual data to surgeons while operating. Virtual reality can have numerous applications, like intraoperative surgery and post-operative rehabilitation, depending on the surgeon's needs. However, its usage in different surgical arenas is still being investigated.
What Is Virtual Reality Surgery?
Virtual reality helps to generate an entirely artificial and computer-simulated image. It helps to create an environment with real-time interaction. In the past, virtual reality has been used for endoscopic training and assessment. In a recent study of randomized controlled trials, it was shown that a decreased operative time, error rate, and accuracy are achieved when virtual reality training is used for new trainees with no previous experience or who had standard laparoscopic training. The devices in virtual reality involve tools that interact with the virtual environment to perform the surgery.
The equipment is customized to provide a surgical simulation that gives the most immersive experience. The unique feature of this technique is that the consumer cost is not very high. Therefore, it can be highly successful. Currently, surgical tools like touch surgery on smartphones and tablets are being developed on a virtual reality platform, leading to a significant change in surgical practices.
What Are the Benefits of Virtual Reality Surgery?
The virtual reality-based tools use assessment measures to objectively identify surgical proficiency. These tools provide a highly granular picture of the flaws in the surgery and help identify areas for improvement. Universities and hospitals have incorporated virtual reality successfully for training. However, limited research has been done on the effectiveness of virtual reality.
With the emerging novel technology and rapid advancement, the size of real-time visualization devices has decreased significantly. Smartphones can now be used with microprocessing power, replacing desktop computers. Doctors around the globe are using smartphones, which has paved the way for this technology in the healthcare system. Surgeons are always looking for technologies that will make the operating environment better. They readily adopt technologies that allow their field to offer a better surgical and patient experience. For instance, innovations like fiber optics allow for minimal access surgery and robotic surgery. These tools have been used in the past at a high cost. However, over the past few years, these technologies have become cheaper and more easily available.
Virtual reality is an important tool in surgical robotics that is dependent on a robotic arm controlled by a human surgeon at a console. The surgeon uses the camera placed within the body to get a view of the area being operated on. However, tactile and sensory feedbacks are also essential during surgery.
Virtual reality can also be used in mental health patients with phobias by their therapists. For example, it can be used to treat clients with agoraphobia (fear of crowds) or acrophobia (fear of heights). A situation might be created in the therapist’s center to help the client face their fear virtually and gradually overcome it.
1. Patient Benefits: Virtual reality is being used by medical companies to provide patients with an experience of what to expect from surgery. For instance, plastic surgeons can demonstrate virtual aesthetic planning by using the patient's attributes to show the aesthetics that can be achieved, like in the case of breast enhancement. Virtual reality improves the communication and education of clinicians, which further improves the quality of service and patient safety.
2. Operative Benefits: Virtual reality can be beneficial for surgeons as it can have a positive impact on surgery in several ways. It can specifically be used for surgical training by creating a virtual surgical environment. However, real-time enhancement of the surgical procedure is still being explored. Some studies suggest that the surgery can be enhanced with virtual reality, but sometimes it could be distracting for the surgeons. Certain characteristics might be useful, like voice activation that helps the surgeon communicate beyond the operation theater. It is helpful in retrieving test results and images without having to leave the sterile environment.
The use of virtual reality in training plays a vital role in improving surgical skills. There are discrepancies seen in the clinical setup. For instance, there are chances that one surgeon might have performed a good number of surgeries during his training while others may have had the chance to do so. Moreover, it also helps the surgeons get trained and proficient before entering their individual practice. Virtual reality also helps them practice the skills associated with the new medical technologies that they are learning.
What Are the Drawbacks of the Use of Virtual Reality in Surgery?
The shortcomings in training and assessment are leading to increased levels of risk. Certain drawbacks include
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According to research published in the New England Journal of Medicine, the mortality rates of patients were five times higher for virtual reality-trained surgeons than their highly skilled counterparts.
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Another study suggests that 30 percent of surgeons could not work independently after residency.
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An estimated seven million patients around the world experience surgical complications each year.
Conclusion:
Currently, the fast evolution in the field of surgery demands a new way to provide access to experiential surgical education. Further, it is essential to formalize the approach to technical assessment to measure the surgeons’ capabilities more objectively and ensure a consistent level of quality and proper skill set of the surgical workforce. Virtual reality might act as an important educational tool to promote surgeon training and continue to offer patients the very best care with a refined surgical education system and rapid medical innovation.
