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Research Library · Independent literature review

Thoracic: Does VR surgical planning improve patient outcomes?

5 Thoracic studies in the library address this question.

Thoracic: Patient outcomesBar chart. Thoracic: Patient outcomes. Comparative or prospective studies 1, Retrospective studies 1, Case reports & technical 3.RESEARCH LIBRARY · INDEPENDENT LITERATURE REVIEWThoracic: Patient outcomes5 studies in the library, by study designComparative or prospecti…1Retrospective studies1Case reports & technical3Positive findingMixedDescriptiveNo significant differenceRealize Medical Research Library · 631 studies · updated 2026-10-03

What the studies report

  • Mixed
    “Conversion occurred in 10/39 SI cases and no VR cases (p = 0.045); intraoperative complications occurred in 5/39 and 0/11 (p = 0.20), and postoperative complications in 6/39 and 0/11 (p = 0.16).”

    Pierucci 2026 · Retrospective cohort · n: 50 patients

  • Descriptive
    “Pathologic examination confirmed radical resection in 49 patients (98%).”

    Bakhuis 2023 · Prospective cohort · n: 50 patients

  • Descriptive
    “No intraoperative complications related to VR or AR were observed.”

    Veit 2026 · Case series · n: 35 patients

  • Descriptive
    “Based on our experience, the application of these technologies have added value to the surgical planning of ST and its outcomes in the treatment of CTS.”

    Romero Lara 2023 · Case series · n: 3 patients

How strong is the evidence?

Of 5 studies with a finding on this question: 1 mixed, 4 descriptive. These reflect what each study's authors report.

Study designs: 1 comparative or prospective study, 1 retrospective study and 3 case reports, case series and technical reports.

All 5 studies

Essential Surgical Plan Modifications After Virtual Reality Planning in 50 Consecutive Segmentectomies #

Bakhuis W et al. · The Annals of thoracic surgery · 2023

Thoracic · Prospective cohort · n: 50 patients

Descriptive
“Pathologic examination confirmed radical resection in 49 patients (98%).”

49 patients (98%)

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Thoracoscopic surgery for congenital pulmonary malformations in infants: a preliminary comparative evaluation of virtual reality-guided preoperative planning versus standard imaging #

Pierucci UM et al. · Surgical endoscopy · 2026

Thoracic · Retrospective cohort · n: 50 patients

Mixed
“Conversion occurred in 10/39 SI cases and no VR cases (p = 0.045); intraoperative complications occurred in 5/39 and 0/11 (p = 0.20), and postoperative complications in 6/39 and 0/11 (p = 0.16).”

p = 0.045

DOIPubMed

Merging realities: Virtual and augmented platforms utilization for complex chest wall surgery-a case series #

Veit T et al. · The journal of trauma and acute care surgery · 2026

Thoracic · Case series · n: 35 patients

Descriptive
“No intraoperative complications related to VR or AR were observed.”

DOIPubMed

Use of Virtual Reality and Three-Dimensional Printing in the Surgical Planning of Slide Tracheoplasty #

Romero Lara DP et al. · World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery · 2023

Thoracic · Case series · n: 3 patients

Descriptive
“Based on our experience, the application of these technologies have added value to the surgical planning of ST and its outcomes in the treatment of CTS.”

DOIPubMed

Tailored endoscopic treatment of tracheo-oesophageal fistula using preoperative holographic assessment and a cardiac septal occluder #

Siboni S et al. · BMJ case reports · 2022

Thoracic · Case report · n: 1 patient

Descriptive
“We report the successful endoscopic closure of a post-radiotherapy TOF using preprocedural CT scan with holographic three-dimensional reconstruction and an Amplatzer atrial septal device.”

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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.