Background: Arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) of the brain are vessel conglomerates of feeding arteries and draining veins that carry a risk of spontaneous and intraoperative rupture. Augmented reality (AR)-assisted neuronavigation permits continuous, real-time, updated visualization of navigation information through a heads-up display, thereby potentially improving the safety of surgical resection of AVMs.
Observations: The authors report a case of a 37-year-old female presenting with a 2-year history of recurrent falls due to intermittent right-sided weakness and increasing clumsiness in the right upper extremity. Magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic resonance angiography, and cerebral angiography of the brain revealed a left parietal Spetzler-Martin grade III AVM. After endovascular embolization of the AVM, microsurgical resection using an AR-assisted neuronavigation system was performed. Postoperative angiography confirmed complete obliteration of arteriovenous shunting. The postsurgical course was unremarkable, and the patient remains in excellent health.
Lessons: Our case describes the operative setup and intraoperative employment of AR-assisted neuronavigation for AVM resection. Application of this technology may improve workflow and enhance patient safety.
Keywords: 3D = three-dimensional; AR = augmented reality; AVM; AVM = arteriovenous malformation; CTA = computed tomography angiography; HUD = heads-up display; MCA = middle cerebral artery; MRA = magnetic resonance angiography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; VR = virtual reality; arteriovenous malformation; augmented reality; image-guided surgery; neuronavigation; virtual reality.
© 2022 The authors.