Research Library · Independent literature review

Hepatobiliary & pancreatic (HPB): VR and AR surgical planning research

Name: Hepatobiliary & pancreatic (HPB): VR and AR surgical planning studies
Creator: Realize Medical

The library holds 34 Hepatobiliary & pancreatic (HPB) studies, published 2018–2026; 16 of them since 2024.

Study designs: 5 comparative or prospective studies, 3 retrospective studies, 4 surveys and user studies, 9 reviews and 13 case reports, case series and technical reports.

Key findings by question

Quoted from the studies. Each question lists the studies that report on it.

Do surgeons actually want to plan in 3D?

Of 8 studies with a finding on this question: 6 report a positive finding, 1 descriptive, 1 no significant difference. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Positive finding
“Regarding usability and user experience the VR application achieved the highest scores without causing significant vegetative symptoms and was also the most preferred method (n=22, 73.3%)”
Huettl 2021 · Comparative study · n: 20 cases
Positive finding
“Mean SUS scores were 96.0 preoperatively and 95.5 postoperatively, reflecting excellent usability.”
Lamadé 2026 · Retrospective case series · n: 5 patients
Positive finding
“The prototype achieved a mean SUS score of 67.25 (SD 7.95), indicating acceptable usability.”
Matsangidou 2026 · Survey/user study

Does it improve anatomical understanding?

Of 13 studies with a finding on this question: 11 report a positive finding, 1 mixed, 1 no significant difference. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Positive finding
“The HoloCare™ MXR system was seamlessly integrated into all five cases and improved tumor localization and understanding of vascular anatomy.”
Lamadé 2026 · Retrospective case series · n: 5 patients
Positive finding
“In simulated multidisciplinary tumor board scenarios, clinicians reported improved spatial understanding, reduced cognitive load, and enhanced interdisciplinary communication.”
Matsangidou 2026 · Survey/user study
Positive finding
“Participants generally agreed that complex cases in particular could be assessed better (94.3%) and faster (84.8%) with VR than with traditional 2D display methods.”
Kenngott 2022 · Survey/user study · n: 1 patient

Does it save time?

Of 4 studies with a finding on this question: 2 report a positive finding, 2 descriptive. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Positive finding
“The median time for correct identification was 23.5 [4-138] s using the magnetic resonance imaging images and 6.00 [1-35] s using HoloLens (p < 0.001)”
Pelanis 2020 · Comparative study
Positive finding
“Compared to traditional hepatectomy in Group B, MR-assisted hepatectomy in Group A yielded a shorter operation time (202.86 ± 46.02 min vs 229.52 ± 57.13 min, P = 0.003)”
Zhu 2022 · Retrospective cohort · n: 95 patients
Descriptive
“Tumor assignment was significantly shorter with 3D PR models compared to 3D PDF (P<0.001) or VR application (P<0.001).”
Huettl 2021 · Comparative study · n: 20 cases

All specialties

Is the planning accurate?

Of 5 studies with a finding on this question: 4 report a positive finding, 1 no significant difference. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Positive finding
“Accuracy improved from 32.69% to 100% (students) and 74.47% to 100% (residents); time reduced by 54.40% and 51.12%.”
Guo 2026 · Preprint (controlled trial)
Positive finding
“The mixed-reality-based 3D anatomical model clearly visualized the anatomical configuration through rotation, which allowed the endoscopists to accurately identify the cystic duct and advance the guidewire into the gallbladder ( Fig. 5 a ).”
Tanisaka 2025 · Case report (video/image) · n: 1 patient
Positive finding
“A post-placement VR model showed visual concordance between the planned trajectory and the final stent path ( Video 1 ).”
Namima 2025 · Case report (video/image) · n: 1 patient

Does it affect patient outcomes?

Of 5 studies with a finding on this question: 1 report a positive finding, 2 descriptive, 2 no significant difference. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Positive finding
“The total postoperative complications and hospitalization days in Group A were significantly less than those in Group B [14 (37.84%) vs 35 (60.34%), P = 0.032 and 12.05 ± 4.04 d vs 13.78 ± 4.13 d, P = 0.049, respectively].”
Zhu 2022 · Retrospective cohort · n: 95 patients
Descriptive
“In another case, the hologram enabled a safe Gliisonean pedicle approach for hepato-cellular carcinoma with a hilar anatomical anomaly.”
Saito 2020 · Case series · n: 2 patients
Descriptive
“All patients underwent successful resection of tumor under the guidance of 3D visualization and VR technology.”
Zhu 2019 · Case series · n: 20 patients

Hepatobiliary & pancreatic (HPB) studies on this question All specialties

Does it help train residents?

Of 3 studies with a finding on this question: 1 report a positive finding, 2 descriptive. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Positive finding
“LiverXR-Plan enhances surgical planning competency and shifts liver surgery education from experience-dependent to data-driven decision-making.”
Guo 2026 · Preprint (controlled trial)
Descriptive
“These findings indicate that VR is associated with measurable advantages under higher task complexity, supporting its potential role in surgical education and preoperative planning, although the present design cannot isolate which immersive features drive this benefit.”
Zolkin 2026 · Comparative study
Descriptive
“Least potential was seen in nursing training (54.8%).”
Kenngott 2022 · Survey/user study · n: 1 patient

Studies (34)

Effect of virtual reality on spatial-anatomical understanding in preoperative liver surgery: a randomized crossover study #

Zolkin A et al. · Scientific reports · 2026

Hepatobiliary & pancreatic (HPB) · Comparative study

“In complex models, VR significantly improved performance compared with desktop visualization (28.0 ± 3.3 vs. 26.4 ± 3.6; p = 0.002, d = 0.46), whereas results for simpler models were comparable.”

p = 0.002

Hepatobiliary & pancreatic (HPB): VR and AR surgical planning research

Key findings by question

Do surgeons actually want to plan in 3D?

Does it improve anatomical understanding?

Does it save time?

Is the planning accurate?

Does it affect patient outcomes?

Does it help train residents?

Studies (34)

Effect of virtual reality on spatial-anatomical understanding in preoperative liver surgery: a randomized crossover study #

Comparative Study of Segmentation Algorithms for the Generation of CT-Based Preoperative Planning Meshes of the Liver Vessels #

Investigating the utility of VR for spatial understanding in surgical planning: evaluation of head-mounted to desktop display #

Virtual reality and 3D printing improve preoperative visualization of 3D liver reconstructions-results from a preclinical comparison of presentation modalities and user's preference #

Use of mixed reality for improved spatial understanding of liver anatomy #

Potential contribution of extended reality to safety in minimally invasive hepatectomy: a comparative study of laparoscopic and robotic approaches #

First evaluation of augmented and mixed reality in open liver surgery #

Application value of mixed reality in hepatectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma #

From Prototype to Practice: Mixed Methods Study of Human-Centered Design and Usability Evaluation of Augmented Reality for Complex Oncology Surgical Workflows #

Measuring Bound Attention During Complex Liver Surgery Planning: Feasibility Study #

IMHOTEP: cross-professional evaluation of a three-dimensional virtual reality system for interactive surgical operation planning, tumor board discussion and immersive training for complex liver surgery in a head-mounted display #

Virtual Reality for Surgical Planning - Evaluation Based on Two Liver Tumor Resections #

[Virtual reality in liver surgery-Planning, advanced training, testing] #

[Augmented and virtual reality in surgery: fields of application and exploratory studies exemplified by VIVATOP : Perioperative surgical planning and intraoperative support] #

Integrating mixed reality, augmented reality, and artificial intelligence in complex liver surgeries: Enhancing precision, safety, and outcomes #

Technological Advances in Pre-Operative Planning #

Enhancing liver surgery and transplantation: the role of 3D printing and virtual reality #

[Application of mixed reality technology in the field of hepatobiliary surgery] #

[Liver Surgery 4.0 - Planning, Volumetry, Navigation and Virtual Reality] #

Uses of a dedicated 3D reconstruction software with augmented and mixed reality in planning and performing advanced liver surgery and living donor liver transplantation (with videos) #

Virtual and Augmented Reality in Oncologic Liver Surgery #

Extended Reality-Based Hepatic Surgical Planning: Impact on Task Time, Anatomic Accuracy, and Cognitive Burden in Novice Surgeons #

Successful guidewire insertion into the gallbladder facilitated by a mixed-reality-based three-dimensional anatomical model #

Virtual reality cross-sections matched to endoscopic ultrasound for preprocedural simulation of hepaticogastrostomy #

Mixed-reality enhanced size-matching and graft reduction in paediatric living donor liver transplantation #

Using preoperative Virtual Reality simulation in liver surgery can help a young trainee surgeon #

Augmented reality in hepatobiliary-pancreatic surgery: a technology at your fingertips #

3D mixed-reality visualization of medical imaging data as a supporting tool for innovative, minimally invasive surgery for gastrointestinal tumors and systemic treatment as a new path in personalized treatment of advanced cancer diseases #

Patient-individualized resection planning in liver surgery using 3D print and virtual reality (i-LiVR)-a study protocol for a prospective randomized controlled trial #

Using virtual 3D-models in surgical planning: workflow of an immersive virtual reality application in liver surgery #

Intraoperative 3D Hologram Support With Mixed Reality Techniques in Liver Surgery #

[Three-dimensional visual assessment and virtual reality study of centrally located hepatocellular carcinoma on the axis of blood vessels] #

IMHOTEP: virtual reality framework for surgical applications #

[Preliminary use of HoloLens glasses in surgery of liver cancer] #