stella
Kidney CancerSeptember 2019

What Researchers Found Using 3-D VR Models for Kidney Cancer Surgery Planning

This 92-patient trial gave surgeons 3-D virtual reality models of patient kidneys before robotic partial nephrectomy. Operations done with VR planning had shorter operating times, less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays.

What the trial was testing

The trial enrolled 92 patients with kidney cancer. The study was sponsored by Ceevra and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.

Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.

What the results showed

Shorter operations, less blood loss, and shorter stays with VR planning.

JAMA Network Open · 2019 · NCT03334344

These findings — that with reduced blood loss and shorter hospital stays using 3-D VR surgical planning — were published in the JAMA Network Open and represent the headline result of the study.

Researchers tracked outcomes across 92 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.

What this means for patients

For patients with kidney cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.

What you can do now

Surgical 3-D VR planning tools are increasingly available at academic medical centers and some community hospitals. Ask your surgeon whether their team uses 3-D imaging or VR for kidney surgery planning, especially for complex tumors.

Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.