Augmented Reality Microscopy in the Management of Cerebellopontine Lesions and Microvascular Decompression: A Pilot Study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate whether augmented reality microscopy surgical fluorescence technology, already Food and Drug Administration approved for vascular neurosurgery, can aid in lateral skull base surgery during cerebellopontine (CPA) tumor resection and microvascular decompression.

STUDY

DESIGN

Pilot prospective uncontrolled observational cohort study.

SETTING

An academic tertiary care hospital.

PATIENTS: Those who underwent retrosigmoid craniotomy for CPA tumor resection or microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm, trigeminal neuralgia or pulsatile tinnitus. 11 patients were recruited: 4 underwent CPA tumor resection and 7 underwent microvascular decompression.

INTERVENTIONS: Augmented reality microscopy with fluorescence imaging was utilized to visualize vascular flow intraoperatively. A postoperative surgeon questionnaire was administered to assess the intraoperative efficacy of this technology.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Efficacy of technology in aiding with CPA tumor resection and microvascular decompression.

RESULTS

For all 7 microvascular decompression cases, surgeons agreed that the technology aided in identifying areas where disease was affecting tissues with no cases of vascular occlusion identified. In 3 of the 4 CPA tumor resection cases, surgeons agreed that the technology identified areas of vascular flow within the CPA and the tumor. Vascular patency of the sigmoid-transverse sinus was also confirmed. No significant adverse effects were noted except 1 instance of severe-to-profound sensorineural hearing loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that the augmented reality fluorescence technology works during lateral skull base surgery as it can confirm intraoperative vascular integrity. Our data also suggest that this technology may improve visualization of ambiguous vasculature and blood flow to diseased tissue.