Apple Vision Pro-Assisted Vascular Identification in Lung Surgery (AVP-Lung)

Background:

Precise identification of pulmonary blood vessels is critical in thoracic surgery to prevent intraoperative bleeding and complications. Conventional methods rely on direct visual inspection and preoperative imaging review. Recent advances in extended reality (XR) technology offer potential for real-time, three-dimensional visualization during surgery.

Objective:

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility and safety of using Apple Vision Pro, a mixed-reality head-mounted display, to assist surgeons in identifying and navigating blood vessels during lung surgery.

Methods:

This is a single-center, prospective clinical study conducted at Huai'an Second People's Hospital. Patients undergoing elective lung surgery will be enrolled. All participants will receive standard preoperative chest CT scans.

During surgery, the surgical team will use Apple Vision Pro to visualize reconstructed 3D vascular models superimposed on the surgical field. The primary outcome is the accuracy of vessel identification and navigation. Secondary outcomes include operative time, blood loss, complication rates, and surgeon feedback on usability.

Ethical Considerations:

The study protocol has been approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Huai'an Second People's Hospital. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to enrollment.

Significance:

If successful, this study may provide a novel technological approach to improving surgical precision and safety in thoracic surgery.