Multi-center study compares clinical performance of AAA procedures in virtual environment

Practice makes perfect.

University Hospitals (UH) Case Medical Center and Simbionix recently launched a multi-center, randomized study comparing the clinical performance of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) procedures with and without prior rehearsal in a virtual environment for physicians.

The study investigates the clinical related performance and cost analysis of AAA procedures performed using standard protocols compared to procedures performed with prior rehearsal. A total of 11 sites across the country are enrolling up to 150 patients who have chosen to have elective endovascular AAA repair.

UH Case Medical Center's Henry Baele, MD, Vascular Surgeon and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, is leading the trial and is optimistic about the system's potential.

"There are no reset buttons in the operating room," said Dr. Baele. "As surgeons, we are always looking at ways that we can improve and hone our skills that ultimately will lead to better outcomes for our patients. This virtual platform allows us to examine our treatment plan, accurately plot our course prior to surgery and reduce overall risk."

The usage of virtual reality simulation in the medical field has increased recently as a result of evolving training models and growing public awareness of patient safety and medical costs. Additionally the platform has shown progress for patients as the utilization of new technology has yielded improved techniques and patient outcomes.

The Simbionix PROcedure Rehearsal Studio (PRS) enables the physician to rehearse a complete endovascular procedure on a virtual model of a patient's exact anatomy, increasing the patient benefit. The program creates a patient-specific 3D anatomical model based on a patient's CT for the purpose of analyzing and evaluating preoperative surgical treatment options.

Additionally the virtual training is designed to dramatically reduce a patient's exposure to Fluoroscopy, contrast use, skin radiation doses, as well as validate treatment plan as well as overall procedure time. The trial also is examining the control and trial groups in endograft (stent that is placed inside a blood vessel to prevent rupture of an aneurysm) placement, including adjunctive procedures associated with initial surgery and overall blood loss.

"Advancing technology in the operating room carries with it an enhanced price but reducing unnecessary surgeries, improving outcomes and shifting our protocols to save lives is invaluable," said Dr. Baele. "This system has the potential to do all that and also save the patient costly medical bills."

UH Case Medical Center also has been using and testing for two years the Surgical Theater Platform, co-designed by UH neurosurgeons, for brain aneurysm cases.