Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40640628›Full record

ArticleSurgical endoscopy2025

First use of augmented reality headset in minimally invasive general surgery: seeing is believing.

Ryan C Broderick, Graham J Spurzem, J Jeffery Reeves, Hannah M Hollandsworth, Bryan J Sandler, Garth R Jacobsen, Christopher A Longhurst, Santiago Horgan

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Surgical endoscopy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07301385 (Evaluation of Head-Mounted Spatial Computing and Three-Dimensional), which is not on this map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT07301385 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2026, after this paper: background citation

Evaluation of Head-Mounted Spatial Computing and Three-Dimensional (3D) Visualization in Ocular Microsurgery: A Feasibility and Safety Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorSharp HealthCareRan2026 to 2026Enrolled45ConditionsCataract Surgery, CataractArmsApple Vision Pro (Head-Mounted Spatial Computing Display), Zeiss Artevo Digital Surgical Microscope
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Ryan C BroderickDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Graham J SpurzemDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA. gspurzem@health.ucsd.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1134-1754
J Jeffery ReevesDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Hannah M HollandsworthDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Bryan J SandlerDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Garth R JacobsenDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.
Christopher A LonghurstJoan & Irwin Jacobs Center for Health Innovation, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA.
Santiago HorganDivision of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Center for the Future of Surgery, University of California San Diego, 9300 Campus Point Dr. La Jolla, San Diego, CA, 92037, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAugmented reality (AR) is an evolving technology with the potential to transform surgical practice. By superimposing digital information onto the surgeon's field of view, AR headsets provide an unobstructed view of the minimally invasive operative field, eliminating the need to divert attention to external monitors. We present the first series of minimally invasive general surgery (MIS) cases performed using the Apple Vision Pro headset in the USA.

methodsAttending surgeons and trainees performed consecutive MIS cases at our institution while wearing the headset from August 2024 to December 2024. Using open-source software, laparoscopic/endoscopic video sources were displayed as virtual monitors in the physical operating room space. The virtual monitors served as the primary monitors through which surgeons performed each case. Standard monitors remained present to enable other members of the operative team to view the operations. At the conclusion of each case, the operating surgeon completed the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) assessment tool to evaluate perceived workload while operating with the headset. 30-day perioperative complications were also assessed.

resultsA total of 41 MIS cases were performed by 3 attending surgeons and 4 trainees. The most common procedure was laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (N = 9, 22.0%). Open-source software enabled simultaneous viewing of up to 3 virtual displays that could be individually positioned in the surgeon's visual field. The mean NASA-TLX score for all participants was 22.3 ± 4.7, indicating a low perceived intraoperative workload. There was no significant difference in NASA-TLX scores between attending surgeons and trainees (19.8 ± 5.3 vs 24.8 ± 3.0, p = .23). There were no intraoperative complications; 30-day morbidity and mortality were 0%.

conclusionThis study serves as a proof of concept for the use of an augmented reality headset in minimally invasive general surgery.

Indexed as

Augmented RealityLaparoscopyMinimally Invasive Surgical ProceduresAdultAgedClinical CompetenceFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPostoperative ComplicationsWorkloadAugmented realityEndoscopyLaparoscopyMinimally invasive surgerySpatial computing

Identifiers

PMID40640628
PMCPMC12408766

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.