Virtual reality helps prepare doctors for kidney stone surgery

Surgeons of the future are being trained using virtual reality (VR) technology.

New research shows this is an effective way to teach junior doctors how to treat patients with kidney stones.

The study was led by Professor Bhaskar Somani from University Hospital Southampton (UHS).

He is part of the UHS Research Leaders Programme and the NIHR Southampton Biomedical Research Centre (BRC).

Findings have been published in the journal Current Urology.

Treating kidney stones

One in ten people will develop a kidney stone in their lifetime.

While most are small enough to pass naturally, some may need to be surgically removed.

A ureteroscopy is one of the main types of surgery to remove kidney stones. It involves a long, thin telescope being inserted into the bladder and ureter. This enables the surgeon to gently remove the stone.

Alternatively, surgeons may use laser energy to break the stone up into small pieces so it can be passed naturally.

Interactive training

For this study, researchers used cutting-edge 3D printing technology to create a silicone kidney model. This was used to imitate ureteroscopy.

15 final-year medical students and junior doctors were invited to take part.

At the start of the study, participants joined an experienced surgeon to do a ureteroscopy on the model kidney. Their role was to help the surgeon find the stone.

Researchers recorded how long this took and the number of mistakes made.

A week of immersive training followed. Each participant wore a VR headset for around 15 minutes each day, navigating a range of training scenarios to hone their skills.

They then returned to the operating room to repeat the initial steps.

On average, participants were able to detect kidney stones around 40% faster after receiving the training. They were also less likely to make mistakes.

Prof Somani is a Consultant Urological Surgeon and Professor at the University of Southampton.

He said: “This will allow students and trainees to learn in a safe space away from operating theatres, but thereby improving training and patient safety.

“When they are ready to perform these procedures, they are technically and clinically better prepared, making the surgery safer for our patients.”