Exploring the Role of Augmented Reality to Enhance Applied Anatomy Education for Anesthesiologists

Abstract Understanding aberrant anatomy or congenital deformities and their physiological impact involves an in-depth understanding of normal human anatomy. Traditional educational modalities such as two-dimensional (2D) textbook illustrations and lecture slides, are noted to be passive, lacking user engagement and interaction. In this case study, we feature the rare anatomical malformation known as Kommerell's diverticulum (KD), vividly illustrated using the integrated AR system: Medivis Surgical AR platform and Microsoft HoloLens 2. Utilizing this technology allowed for the superimposition of 3-dimensional (3D) images onto physical reality. Our utilization of this technology allowed for a novel means of visualizing the aneurysmal defect in the patient's right distal aortic arch via real-time manipulation of medical images and superimposition of 3D images onto physical reality. Our case study demonstrated that the anatomic comprehension and functional implications of rare and complex anatomical variations may be meaningfully supplemented by using AR applications.