Virtual reality technology is being used by surgeons to see inside hearts and prepare for surgery. The researchers who developed the technology hope it will improve patients’ experience by shortening operating times and reducing the need for multiple surgeries.
The technology was developed by researchers at Evelina London Children’s Hospital and King’s College London. It brings together scans that are routinely used to plan congenital heart disease surgery to create a three-dimensional, beating digital double of the heart. They hope that it could be in regular use within the next two years.
Trials of an early version of the technology, which used only echocardiograms (ultrasound scans of the heart) to create the virtual reality heart, found that surgeons preferred it for understanding the anatomy of their patient’s hearts. They also reported that it increased their confidence and improved their decision making.
Congenital heart diseases are range of birth defects that affect the normal way the heart works. Congenital heart disease is one of the most common types of birth defect, affecting almost 1 in 100 babies born in the UK. Depending on the severity of their condition, patients might need one or more procedures to help their hearts function normally.
Professor John Simpson, Professor of Paediatric and Fetal Cardiology at Evelina London and King’s College London, is leading the team developing the VR technology. He said: “Procedures to repair the heart’s anatomy can be complex, and surgeons don’t like surprises. Our technology will allow surgeons to plan and practice these procedures, and we’re currently applying for approval for it to be used in this way.
“We think that this technology could also be used outside of congenital heart disease surgeries, to plan any procedure which aims to repair a structural problem within the heart, such as valve surgery in an adult patient.”
Dr Kuberan Pushparajah, consultant in paediatric cardiology at Evelina London, said: “This exciting project has benefitted from the input of patients and clinicians to help focus on areas that are most important to them. Initial feedback has been hugely positive. The co-location of the engineering and clinical teams allows us to rapidly respond to this feedback and develop a product that is best placed to improve patient care.”
Ten year old Rosie from London was born with complex congenital heart disease, needing two operations. She tried out the new technology for herself at St Thomas’ Hospital.
Funding from the British Heart Foundation has supported the team to add two more types of scans into the system – computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While these types of scans are regularly used to help plan surgeries, they are usually only viewed on a flat screen.
The technology has also received significant funding from Evelina London Children’s Charity.
