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Research Library · Independent literature review

Congenital heart: Does VR surgical planning reduce operating time?

10 Congenital heart studies in the library address this question.

Congenital heart: Operating timeBar chart. Congenital heart: Operating time. Randomized trials 2, Comparative or prospective studies 4, Retrospective studies 2, Surveys and user studies 1, Case reports & technical 1.RESEARCH LIBRARY · INDEPENDENT LITERATURE REVIEWCongenital heart: Operating time10 studies in the library, by study designRandomized trials2Comparative or prospecti…4Retrospective studies2Surveys and user studies1Case reports & technical1Positive findingMixedDescriptiveNo significant differenceRealize Medical Research Library · 631 studies · updated 2026-10-03

Where time gains were reported

  • Positive finding
    “The surgical planning time was shorter for the MRHG group (51.65 ± 11.11 min) than that for the control group (65.71 ± 18.07 min, p<0.05).”

    Ye 2021 · Randomized controlled trial · n: 34 patients

  • Positive finding
    “The intervention group had shorter operative and cardiopulmonary bypass times compared to the control group.”

    Kolcz 2024 · Prospective cohort · n: 9 patients

  • Positive finding
    “All our participants recreated 3D models in a relatively short time, maintaining a good overall quality (average quality score ≥ 3 on a scale of 1-5).”

    Bertelli 2023 · Validation study · n: 5 patients

  • Positive finding
    “3D imaging reduced the intraoperative preparation time (n = 24, 59 ± 23 min vs. 73 ± 43 min, P < 0.05).”

    Gehrsitz 2021 · Comparative study · n: 26 patients

How strong is the evidence?

Of 10 studies with a finding on this question: 4 report a positive finding, 1 mixed, 4 descriptive, 1 no significant difference. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Study designs: 2 randomized trials, 4 comparative or prospective studies, 2 retrospective studies, 1 survey or user study and 1 case report, case series or technical report.

Randomized trials: 2 trials on this question; 1 reported a positive finding, 1 no significant difference.

All 10 studies

Utility of virtual reality imaging to guide complex structural cardiac interventions: A randomized controlled trial #

Garg I et al. · Annals of pediatric cardiology · 2025

Congenital heart · Randomized controlled trial · n: 40 patients

No difference reported
“Despite VR's potential to simplify the intervention, it did not affect procedural duration or contrast volume in this early experience.”

DOIPubMedFree full text

Mixed-reality hologram for diagnosis and surgical planning of double outlet of the right ventricle: a pilot study #

Ye W et al. · Clinical radiology · 2021

Congenital heart · Randomized controlled trial · n: 34 patients

Positive finding
“The surgical planning time was shorter for the MRHG group (51.65 ± 11.11 min) than that for the control group (65.71 ± 18.07 min, p<0.05).”

p<0.05

DOIPubMed

Unifocalization of Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries (MAPCAs) and Native Pulmonary Arteries in Infancy-Application of 3D Printing and Virtual Reality #

Kolcz J et al. · Journal of cardiovascular development and disease · 2024

Congenital heart · Prospective cohort · n: 9 patients

Positive finding
“The intervention group had shorter operative and cardiopulmonary bypass times compared to the control group.”

DOIPubMedFree full text

Fast-track virtual reality software to facilitate 3-dimensional reconstruction in congenital heart disease #

Bertelli F et al. · Interdisciplinary cardiovascular and thoracic surgery · 2023

Congenital heart · Validation study · n: 5 patients

Positive finding
“All our participants recreated 3D models in a relatively short time, maintaining a good overall quality (average quality score ≥ 3 on a scale of 1-5).”

DOIPubMedFree full text

A Novel 3D Visualized Operative Procedure in the Single-Stage Complete Repair With Unifocalization of Pulmonary Atresia With Ventricular Septal Defect and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries #

Qiu H et al. · Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2022

Congenital heart · Comparative study · n: 20 patients (9 3D-visualised vs 11 conventional)

Mixed
“the median pre-CPB time per MAPCAs was significantly shorter [25.7 (14.0, 46.3) vs. 65 (41.3, 75.0) min, p = 0.031]”

p = 0.031

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Cinematic Rendering in Mixed-Reality Holograms: A New 3D Preoperative Planning Tool in Pediatric Heart Surgery #

Gehrsitz P et al. · Frontiers in cardiovascular medicine · 2021

Congenital heart · Comparative study · n: 26 patients

Positive finding
“3D imaging reduced the intraoperative preparation time (n = 24, 59 ± 23 min vs. 73 ± 43 min, P < 0.05).”

59 ± 23 min vs. 73 ± 43 min

DOIPubMedFree full text

Visualisation of cardiac magnetic resonance-based anatomic models in virtual reality to evaluate candidacy for transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement in surgically palliated right ventricular outflow tracts #

Wilson HC et al. · Cardiology in the young · 2026

Congenital heart · Retrospective cohort · n: 16 patients · Used Elucis

Descriptive
“Median time for model generation was 20.6 minutes (IQR 18.5, 22.0).”

20.6 minutes

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Technical Feasibility of Virtual Reality-Enhanced Three-Dimensional Rotational Angiography: A Retrospective Analysis of a Novel Imaging Approach for Interventional Procedures in the Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory #

Szeliga J et al. · Pediatric cardiology · 2026

Congenital heart · Retrospective case series · n: 62 procedures

Descriptive
“Median VR processing times were 3.0 min for model generation, 5.0 min for refinement, 4.0 min for procedural simulation, and 7.0 min for extended anatomical analysis, defined as immersive evaluation of anatomical structures beyond the primary contrast-opacified target region.”

3.0 min

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Virtual Reality Cardiac Surgical Planning Software (CorFix) for Designing Patient-Specific Vascular Grafts: Development and Pilot Usability Study #

Kim B et al. · JMIR cardio · 2022

Congenital heart · Survey/user study · n: 1 patient dataset

Descriptive
“The average times for creating 1 bifurcated and 1 tube-shaped graft after a single 10-minute training session were 13.40 and 5.49 minutes, respectively, with 3 out 5 bifurcated and 1 out of 5 tube-shaped graft designs being in the benchmark range of hepatic flow distribution.”

13.40 and 5.49 minutes

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Fast-track virtual reality for cardiac imaging in congenital heart disease #

Raimondi F et al. · Journal of cardiac surgery · 2021

Congenital heart · Technical development (case series) · n: 3 patients

Descriptive
“The median post-processing time to get VR models using DIVA was 5 min in comparison to 8 h (range 8-12 h including printing time) for 3D models (PDF/printed).”

5 min

DOIPubMed

All congenital heart studiesThis question across specialtiesBrowse the whole library

Summarises published research on VR/AR surgical planning across all platforms. Not product labelling. For Elucis indications see /elucis.

Intended for healthcare professionals.

Summaries and quotes describe each study's methods and the findings its authors report. They are not claims by Realize Medical and may contain errors: please read the original paper. Inclusion is not an endorsement of any product or use.