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Research Library · Independent literature review

Urology: Does VR surgical planning reduce operating time?

13 Urology studies in the library address this question.

Urology: Operating timeBar chart. Urology: Operating time. Randomized trials 2, Comparative or prospective studies 4, Retrospective studies 2, Surveys and user studies 1, Reviews 1, Case reports & technical 1.RESEARCH LIBRARY · INDEPENDENT LITERATURE REVIEWUrology: Operating time13 studies in the library, by study designRandomized trials2Comparative or prospecti…4Retrospective studies2Surveys and user studies1Reviews1Case reports & technical1Positive findingMixedDescriptiveNo significant differenceRealize Medical Research Library · 631 studies · updated 2026-10-03

Where time gains were reported

  • Positive finding
    “Analyses indicated statistically significant difference in ischemia time favoring RG (p = 0.045), with a mean difference of 3.8 minutes.”

    Duarte 2026 · Randomized controlled trial · n: 45 patients

  • Positive finding
    “For urologists treating complex renal tumors, MR technology can help them reduce the warm ischemia time (21.3 ± 4.0 vs 23.6 ± 5.9 minutes, p = 0.031), reconstruction time (15.4 ± 3.8 vs 17.2 ± 4.2 minutes, p = 0.034)”

    Yang 2022 · Randomized controlled trial · n: 92 patients

  • Positive finding
    “The evaluation time was shorter for HR (mean 1.7 vs. 3.4 min, p < 0.0001).”

    Antonelli 2019 · Comparative study · n: 10 patients

  • Positive finding
    “When controlling for case complexity and surgeon, patients with 3-dimensional, virtual reality-assisted surgical planning had significantly lower operative time (141 minutes vs 201 minutes, P < .0001), clamp time (13.2 minutes vs 17.4 minutes, P = .0274)”

    Shirk 2019 · Comparative study · n: 60 patients

How strong is the evidence?

Of 11 studies with a finding on this question: 6 report a positive finding, 1 mixed, 2 descriptive, 2 no significant difference. These reflect what each study's authors report.

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

Randomized trials: 2 trials on this question; 2 reported a positive finding.

All 13 studies

Robot-assisted Partial Nephrectomy with and without Mixed Reality - REALITATEM study #

Duarte DM Junior et al. · International braz j urol · 2026

Urology · Randomized controlled trial · n: 45 patients

Positive finding
“Analyses indicated statistically significant difference in ischemia time favoring RG (p = 0.045), with a mean difference of 3.8 minutes.”

p = 0.045

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Preoperative Immersive Virtual Reality Applied to Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy: A Prospective Randomized Clinical Study of Surgical Planning and Clinical Outcomes #

Cumpanas AD et al. · The Journal of urology · 2025

Urology · Randomized controlled trial · n: 175 patients

“Preoperative visualization of the iVR model resulted in a changed calyx of entry in 30% of cases.”

30%

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Mixed Reality: A Step Further for Planning Complex Renal Tumors (RENAL Nephrometry Score of 7 or Higher) #

Yang Y et al. · Journal of endourology · 2022

Urology · Randomized controlled trial · n: 92 patients

Positive finding
“For urologists treating complex renal tumors, MR technology can help them reduce the warm ischemia time (21.3 ± 4.0 vs 23.6 ± 5.9 minutes, p = 0.031), reconstruction time (15.4 ± 3.8 vs 17.2 ± 4.2 minutes, p = 0.034)”

p = 0.031

DOIPubMed

Effect of 3-Dimensional Virtual Reality Models for Surgical Planning of Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy on Surgical Outcomes: A Randomized Clinical Trial #

Shirk JD et al. · JAMA network open · 2019

Urology · Randomized controlled trial · n: 92 patients

“When controlling for case complexity and other covariates, patients whose surgical planning involved 3-D VR models showed differences in operative time (odds ratio [OR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.37-2.70; estimated OR, 2.47), estimated blood loss (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.04-3.78; estimated OR, 4.56), clamp time (OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.79-3.23; estimated OR, 11.22), and length of hospital stay (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.59-5.14; estimated OR, 5.43).”

DOIPubMedFree full text

Mixed reality three dimensional visualization facilitates repair of posterior urethral rupture after pelvic fracture #

Hua Y et al. · Research Square · 2025

Urology · Preprint (prospective cohort) · n: 32 patients

No significant difference
“Compared with the control group, the mixed reality technology group showed an average operative time reduction of about 12 minutes, although this difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05)”

12 minutes

DOI

Percutaneous Kidney Puncture with Three-dimensional Mixed-reality Hologram Guidance: From Preoperative Planning to Intraoperative Navigation #

Porpiglia F et al. · European urology · 2022

Urology · Comparative study · n: 10 patients

Mixed
“Matched pair analysis with the standard ECIRS group revealed a significantly shorter radiation exposure time for the 3D MR group (p < 0.001) even though the puncture time was longer in comparison to the standard group (p < 0.001).”

p < 0.001

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Holographic Reconstructions for Preoperative Planning before Partial Nephrectomy: A Head-to-Head Comparison with Standard CT Scan #

Antonelli A et al. · Urologia internationalis · 2019

Urology · Comparative study · n: 10 patients

Positive finding
“The evaluation time was shorter for HR (mean 1.7 vs. 3.4 min, p < 0.0001).”

p < 0.0001

DOIPubMed

The Use of 3-Dimensional, Virtual Reality Models for Surgical Planning of Robotic Partial Nephrectomy #

Shirk JD et al. · Urology · 2019

Urology · Comparative study · n: 60 patients

Positive finding
“When controlling for case complexity and surgeon, patients with 3-dimensional, virtual reality-assisted surgical planning had significantly lower operative time (141 minutes vs 201 minutes, P < .0001), clamp time (13.2 minutes vs 17.4 minutes, P = .0274)”

P < .0001

DOIPubMed

Exploring the advantages of mixed reality technology in Robot-assisted laparoscopic partial adrenalectomy #

Zou XC et al. · World journal of surgical oncology · 2026

Urology · Retrospective cohort · n: 82 patients

Positive finding
“Postoperative statistics indicated that the operation time for the MR group was significantly shorter than that of the control group (102.00(98.00 103.00) minutes vs. 103.50(101.00 106.75) minutes, p = 0.017).”

p = 0.017

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The clinical application value of mixed reality in robotic laparoscopic partial nephrectomy #

Zou XC et al. · Frontiers in oncology · 2024

Urology · Retrospective cohort · n: 68 patients

Positive finding
“In comparison to traditional RAPN, MR technology demonstrates the ability to decrease operation time and warm ischemia time all the while maintaining equivalent curative outcomes.”

DOIPubMedFree full text

Evaluation of how users interface with holographic augmented reality surgical scenes: Interactive planning MR‐Guided prostate biopsies #

Velazco-Garcia JD et al. · The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery · 2021

Urology · Survey/user study

Descriptive
“The studies indicated that using a joystick improved the interactive capacity and enabled operator to plan MRgPBx in less time.”

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Mixed reality applications in percutaneous stone surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis of stone-free rate and perioperative complications #

Lo CY et al. · BJUI compass · 2026

Urology · Systematic review

No significant difference
“There was no statistically significant difference in puncture time between MR-assisted and standard groups (SMD = -0.64; 95% CI -2.22 to 0.93; p = 0.42), with considerable heterogeneity.”

p = 0.42

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Application of Mixed Reality Technology in the Planning of PCNL for Special Types of Complex Upper Urinary Stones: A Pilot Study #

Liu Y et al. · Urology · 2025

Urology · Feasibility study · n: 15 patients

Descriptive
“The average time for establishing the main tract was 2.3 ± 0.3 minutes, and the average total operative time was 61.5 ± 12.2 minutes.”

2.3 ± 0.3 minutes

DOIPubMed

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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.