Improving surgical outcomes with virtual reality

Over the course of modern history, surgery has transformed from a risky ‘art’ into a scientific discipline capable of treating many diseases and conditions. Nevertheless, human errors and life threatening complications still occur, particularly for complex surgical procedures.

In Mexico, a Newton funded entrepreneur is using virtual reality technology to develop a surgical planner and simulator that will allow surgeons to plan and perform an operation before the actual surgery. Supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Leaders in Innovation Fellowship programme and the Ministry of Economy in Mexico, Verum VR Medical’s technology could result in better surgical decision making, significantly reduce the occurrence of errors and improve the overall surgical outcome.

This new tool can simulate and reconstruct clinical and anatomical conditions, creating a virtual case the doctor can practice on. It is a virtual experience but it provides the surgeon with real life training. The technology has the potential to reduce surgery time by at least 30 percent; lowering costs and limiting chance of life threatening complications and infections.

Two hospitals have started to use the technology to analyse and discuss clinical cases. Now Verum’s CEO wants to conduct further clinical studies and strengthen the national and international partnerships he formed through the project, so he can help to revolutionise the way that surgeries are practiced and taught around the world.

This tool will be very useful especially for the incoming generations of medics. Using it will help a lot to understand a case and arrive in the operation room with much more confidence.

Senior trauma surgeon at Hospital Civil Guadalajara in an open medical session