V05-03 AUGMENTED REALITY TECHNOLOGY IN GLOBAL UROLOGIC SURGERY

Abstract

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: Surgical medical missions allow for the global transfer of surgical skills, knowledge, and resources between high and low to middle-income countries to the benefit of both the health professionals involved and their patients. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, and general hesitancy to travel has drastically reduced these missions, thus putting a pause on the exchange of surgical skills and training between countries. Augmented reality (AR) technology can mitigate some of these obstacles. AR technology allows mentors and mentees to work together virtually during a live surgical case. Introduction of AR into surgical mission partnerships allows for the continuation of teamwork mentorship, and learning between international teams. We hypothesize that global urologic surgical training can be successfully undertaken through augmented reality. METHODS: In order to evaluate this, members of our team performed several surgical cases while using the Proximie virtual reality system. The Proximie system includes a console with a camera, display monitor, and supported computer system that allows the mentor to visualize the procedure that is being undertaken in the mentee's home country and provide guidance, both visually and through auditory means, during the operation. RESULTS: Multiple procedures were accomplished with this technology. In this video, we will demonstrate endoscopic as well as open cases with a mentee in Benin and mentors in the United Kingdom and the United States. Mentors were able to guide mentees through entire procedures using the AR technology. The audio capabilities of Proximie permitted real time conversation for direct verbal feedback. Proximie technology's visual component allowed mentors to see multiple views simultaneously including the procedure itself as well as endoscopic, fluoroscopic, and sonographic images. Visual feedback was possible through touch screen capability enabling the mentor to mark and circle specific anatomical locations. CONCLUSIONS: Augmented reality technology is feasible for long distance mentor-mentee interactions and global urology “hands on” surgical training.