Virtual Renality: Assessing the Impact of Virtual Reality on Preoperative Planning in Renal Cancer Surgery

Overview

Rationale: Preoperative planning for both partial and radical nephrectomies using conventional CT imaging can be challenging due to complex renal anatomy and vascularization. 3D models in virtual reality (VR) may enhance anatomical understanding and improve preoperative planning. This study aims to prospectively evaluate the clinical impact of the use of 3D models in VR in the preoperative planning of partial and radical nephrectomies. Objective: The primary objective is to assess the impact of VR on preoperative planning and thereby on the agreement between the preoperative plan and the performed surgery in renal surgery (both partial and radical nephrectomies). The secondary objectives focus on the urologist's understanding of the anatomy and how the intraoperative and postoperative outcomes are influenced by the use of VR in the preoperative planning. Study design: The Virtual Renality study is a single-center randomized clinical trial conducted at the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein. Study population: The study population will consist of adult patients (18+) with a suspected RCC who are indicated for (partial) nephrectomy at St. Antonius Hospital Nieuwegein. Intervention: For the intervention group, the urologist will review a 3D virtual model of the renal anatomy in addition to the original CT scan during preoperative planning. For the control group, only the CT scan will be used for preoperative planning, according to the current standard of care. Main study parameters/endpoints: The primary study endpoint is the surgical concordance score, which describes the concordance between the actual performed surgery and the preoperatively determined surgical plan. Nature and extent of the burden and risks associated with participation, benefit, and group relatedness: Participation in this study will not require any additional physical examinations, blood samples, hospital visits, or questionnaires beyond standard clinical care. The only difference for participants in the intervention group is that a 3D model will be created from the existing CT scan and reviewed in VR during preoperative planning by the urologist.

The Virtual Renality study is a single-center randomized clinical trial conducted at the St. Antonius Hospital in Nieuwegein. For the intervention group, the urologist will review a 3D virtual model of the renal anatomy in addition to the original CT scan during preoperative planning, whereas for the control group, only the CT scan will be used for preoperative planning, according to the current standard of care. The flowchart in Figure 1 provides an overview of the study design. The steps covered in the flowchart and the collection of parameters will be further explained later in this protocol. The study is single-blinded, as the 3D virtual model during preoperative planning is the assessed intervention. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the control group or the intervention group to eliminate selection bias and achieve comparability between the two groups. The urologists who perform (partial) nephrectomies at the St. Antonius Hospital will participate in the study. A total of 72 patients suspected of having a renal tumor and indicated for (partial) nephrectomy will be included. The inclusion period for the study will take approximately 7 months.