Case report: Use of markerless augmented reality system for ventriculoperitoneal shunt placement

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt placement is one of the most commonly performed neurosurgical procedures, yet failure rates remain very high. Surface landmarks are typically used to guide VP shunt placement, but they are not reliable in identifying the target anatomy. Augmented reality (AR) is a promising new technology that has the potential to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of neurosurgical procedures. We describe the use of AR for the surgical planning of a VP shunt. A 62-year-old male with a history of subarachnoid hemorrhage presented with delayed hydrocephalus. A computed tomography scan was obtained that confirmed dilated ventricles, requiring a right VP shunt. The patient was brought to the operating room, where the AR system was used for visualization and planning. In this study, we describe the use of AR for VP shunt placement. The AR system consists of a Microsoft HoloLens 2 head-mounted display and a novel markerless registration system, which was used to register patient-specific 3D models onto the patient’s head for visualizing target anatomy and planning an operative approach. The AR system was used to plan the VP shunt placement in the operating room. This system is easy to use and provides a visualization of the patient’s anatomy, which can be used to plan an optimal trajectory. We believe that this has the potential to improve the accuracy and outcomes of VP shunt placements, and further studies are needed to characterize the system’s accuracy and benefits.