Phantom study on surgical performance in augmented reality laparoscopy

Purpose Only a few studies have evaluated Augmented Reality (AR) in in vivo simulations compared to traditional laparoscopy; further research is especially needed regarding the most effective AR visualization technique. This pilot study aims to determine, under controlled conditions on a 3D-printed phantom, whether an AR laparoscope improves surgical outcomes over conventional laparoscopy without augmentation. Methods We selected six surgical residents at a similar level of training and had them perform a laparoscopic task. The participants repeated the experiment three times, using different 3D phantoms and visualizations: Floating AR , Occlusion AR , and without any AR visualization ( Control ). Surgical performance was determined using objective measurements. Subjective measures, such as task load and potential application areas, were collected with questionnaires. Results Differences in operative time, total touching time, and SurgTLX scores showed no statistical significance ( p>0.05 ). However, when assessing the invasiveness of the simulated intervention, the comparison revealed a statistically significant difference ( p=0.009 ). Participants felt AR could be useful for various surgeries, especially for liver, sigmoid, and pancreatic resections (100