Impact of Virtual Reality on Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND: Accurate preprocedural planning is crucial for a successful transcatheter aortic valve implantation to ensure patient safety and valve longevity. Through 3-dimensional visualization, virtual reality (VR) offers the potential to enhance this process. The study investigated whether the inclusion of VR in preprocedural planning can improve the procedural preparation, impact intraprocedural parameters, and improve short-term patient outcomes. METHODS: This randomized, prospective, controlled study included 140 patients who underwent transcatheter aortic valve implantation at the University Hospital Duesseldorf between April and August 2024. In the control group, preprocedural planning was based on multislice computed tomography data using 3mensio software, while in the intervention group, it was supplemented with VR software. In addition, interventionalists assessed both tools via a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The evaluation did not reveal any relevant differences in patient characteristics. VR was superior to 3mensio software with respect to the 3-dimensional understanding ( P