Feasibility and Effectiveness of Augmented Reality Assistance System for Pancreatic Surgery: a Prospective Study

Pancreatic cancer necessitates surgical resection for complete tumor eradication, serving as the primary curative approach. However, pancreatic surgery is still challenging due to the organ's retroperitoneal anatomy and proximity to vital vascular systems. Thus, precise preparation and dissection of peripancreatic vessels are crucial during pancreatic surgery to reduce perioperative complications and improve oncological outcomes. The integration of preoperative computed tomography-derived reconstructed images, along with augmenting the resulting 3D model during surgical procedures, holds significant potential in this context. Augmented reality-assistance systems (ARAS) have seen use in various surgical fields, including orthopedic, plastic, and neurosurgery. Nevertheless, the application of ARAS in abdominal surgery has faced challenges related to organ shifting and deformities. The retroperitoneal nature of the pancreas, characterized by minimal intraoperative organ shifts and deformations, makes pancreatic surgery a promising candidate for ARAS. Despite this, there is a limited number of studies exploring the impact of ARAS during pancreatic surgery. Notably, existing investigations have primarily utilized augmented reality technology with 2D-display-based modalities. This prospective study aims to fill this gap by examining the usability, feasibility, and effectiveness of wearable ARAS during pancreatic surgery. By leveraging advanced technology seamlessly integrated into the surgical workflow, this research seeks to provide valuable insights into the practical application of ARAS, potentially enhancing the precision and outcomes of pancreatic surgery. The preliminary findings of this study will also be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal.