[Development and clinical application of 3D operative planning system of live in virtual reality environments].
OBJECTIVE
To explore and develop three-dimension (3D) virtual reality (VR) liver model and convert computed tomography data into a fully 3D VR environment for display, measure and manipulation.


METHODS
3D-reconstruction of liver was restored from spiral computed tomography (CT) data by using LiVirtue software. Dextrobeam was used to view the 3D model in the VR environment. The liver and its anatomic structure were reconstructed to illuminate the location of the tumor and its related vessels.


RESULTS
3D models of liver, tumor and their relative vessels were reconstructed successfully. These models could be viewed and manipulated in the VR environment on personal computer.38 patients underwent liver resection, including 21 right hemihepatectomy, 14 left hemihepatectomy and 3 extended right hemihepatectomy. The intraoperative contrast with preoperative simulation confirmed the reliability of our 3D operative planning system.


CONCLUSIONS
The preoperative simulation in 3D VR facilitated liver resection by the ability to view tumor and its relative vessels. This preoperative estimation from 3D model of liver benefits a lot to complicated liver resection.
Chen
Gang
G
Department of General Surgery, No. 324 Hospital of People's Liberation Army, Chongqing 400020, China.
Yang
Shi-zhong
SZ
Wu
Guo-qing
GQ
Wang
Yi
Y
Fan
Gui-hua
GH
Tan
Li-wen
LW
Fang
Bin
B
Zhang
Shao-xiang
SX
Dong
Jia-hong
JH
D003198:Computer Simulation; D006498:Hepatectomy; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery; D012984:Software; D014584:User-Computer Interface