Patient-specific 3D anatomical modeling is your pathway to better surgical outcomes
Key Takeaways:
- Patient-specific 3D anatomical models help surgeons better understand and plan surgeries
- Technology can now help us easily visualize patient-specific anatomical models by using MRI and CT scans
- Every patient needs individual attention before and during surgery, and patient-specific 3D anatomical models ensure all processes are carried out according to individual patient needs
- Intravision XR is a medical imaging platform that can visualize patient-specific holographic 3D models from MRIs and CT scans easily and swiftly
Performing surgery is an intricate business that requires laser-sharp precision. Surgeons have to plan operations after carefully studying all the available information about the patient. More often than not, this effort to chalk out an appropriate surgical plan is what leads to optimal surgical outcomes.
Patient-specific virtual 3D anatomical models are proving to be a helpful aid for healthcare professionals. The technology used to visualize these models helps surgeons better understand patient-specific anatomical nuances resulting in surgical preparation that is as good as it gets.
Let’s have a look at what this tech is all about and how it can help healthcare professionals achieve the best possible patient outcomes.
How 3D virtual modeling works
The 3D virtual modeling technology offers digital representations of patient organs that accurately reflect the individual’s anatomy. These models are typically constructed from CT scans or MRI DICOM datasets, the same scans already used to pinpoint abnormalities and pathologies in patient organs.
Whether a patient requires a CT scan or MRI depends on the area of interest. Once the DICOM dataset of the CT scan or MRI is acquired, it can be converted into a 3D model by importing the dataset into a 3D image processing tool.
The creation of the 3D virtual model of the patient organ involves the implementation of different filter and segmentation processes that accurately identify and label the regions of interest. The images are segmented to delineate the anatomical regions of interest that need to be included in the 3D visualization. The next step is to use computer-aided design modeling to visualize a 3D surface, similar to a mesh, of each region of interest, which is exported into an STL file format afterward.
In the next process, the pixelated appearance of the images is minimized by employing “marginal local smoothing.” Then contours are formed and overlaid onto the DICOM images, which ensure that all the anatomical structures can be viewed simultaneously and represented accurately.
Once the 3D model is formed, it can be easily explored in an immersive and interactive environment. The virtual 3D model comes with different statistics, measurements, and analysis that provide radiologists and surgeons detailed information about the patient’s physical anatomy.
The impact of patient-specific anatomical understanding
Patient-specific virtual images that represent real patient anatomy can go a long way to helping healthcare professionals understand particular patient needs. By studying the virtual images, surgeons can pick up the nuances that exist in the patient organs and plan the surgical procedure accordingly — preventing surgical complications and time wastage.
Detailed virtual 3D images can even remove the need to do invasive exploratory surgery in some complex patient cases. These kinds of surgeries carry a significant mortality risk. Data suggests that there is a 17.4% predicted mortality rate associated with explorative surgeries.
There is also a chance that congenital abnormalities exist in patients. If surgeons don’t have prior knowledge of these anatomical abnormalities, it can complicate the surgical procedure. It is therefore extremely important to adopt methods that can provide the best possible picture of the patient anatomy so error- and complication-free procedures can be carried out.
Using 3D images, surgeons can study the minutest details of patient organs and pathology and plan the surgeries to reduce any risks these details may present
Visualizing intricate medical image data as digital 3D anatomical models aids in understanding the development and underlying nature of pathologies. Patient-specific modeling brings valuable insights about the patient that put healthcare professionals in a better position to decide whether surgical intervention is required at all.
Virtual 3D images of patient organs not only help in deciphering the exact location of the diseased region but also aid in gauging its severity.
Research validates better patient outcomes with virtual 3D modeling tools
Research has shown that virtual 3D models provide useful information to surgeons. The 3D models improve surgeons’ understanding of patient anatomy. After using virtual 3D models, many surgeons have reported an increased level of anatomical awareness during the course of the surgery.
The study mentioned above also noted the impact of virtual 3D models on key clinical decisions, such as the use of robotic, laparoscopic, or open surgery techniques. The results suggest that virtual 3D models can provide considerable insight into the surgical approach to be implemented. The study unequivocally showed the importance of enhanced surgery planning tools — like virtual 3D modeling — in improving patient outcomes.
Another study carried out by the University of California found that in the case of kidney tumor surgeries, 3D virtual reality models led to substantial improvements. The 3D models gave surgeons better visualization of the patient’s anatomy compared to viewing simple two-dimensional pictures. 3D virtual models enabled surgeons to observe the depth and contour of patient organs resulting in better surgical preparation.
The better patient-specific anatomical understanding achieved due to virtual 3D models brought better surgical results from different aspects. There was lower blood loss during surgeries, surgery duration was reduced, and the post-procedure patient stay at the hospital was much shorter. The study’s lead author, David Geffen, is of the opinion that using 3D virtual models for cancer surgeries is not something for the future — it is to be used now.
Intravision XR is cloud-based virtual 3D medical modeling software that can be used to easily visualize 3D images and holographs of patient anatomy. The models present complete anatomical detail while keeping intact spatial relationships between organs and their internal structures.
To get more information about Intravision XR, contact us today.
