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Using Virtual Reality to Improve Treatment for Congenital Heart Defects

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Michael Shorofsky, MD: One of the nice parts about using virtual reality is that we're one of the few centers probably in the country that are doing this right now. It's a way that we can make sure that we're providing the highest level of care to all of our patients.



Michael Hainstock, MD: Our patients will have a CT scan or an MRI scan, which we can download to our laptop or desktop computer. Then we can upload into the computer program that we use to segment the different, angles of the congenital heart disease. And then we're able to use our virtual reality goggles to, look at the heart from different angles. And in future iterations, we're hoping to do simulated interventions with subsequent simulated, flow of through those interventions, again, to optimize the patient outcome.



Michael Shorofsky, MD: Having a good three-dimensional model that we can interact with in the virtual reality space is really beneficial. Prior to bringing the patient to the cath lab And the for the surgeons, before they do open heart surgery, it's really helpful for them to see again a three-dimensional model and see how different surgical repairs can be done so that they can help tailor their repair to get better outcomes.



Michael Hainstock, MD: I think the use of virtual reality is just another aspect where we can help children live longer, happier, healthier lives.



Michael Shorofsky, MD: By being able to do all of it in the virtual reality space. We're basically simulating what the surgeon or what Doctor Hainstock, and I will have to do during our procedure, which will overall improve outcomes, length of the procedure, how the procedure is performed, and I think improve the outcomes total for these patients over their their lifespan.

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