Improving Visualization of Intramuscular Perforator Course: Augmented Reality Headsets for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction

BACKGROUND: Augmented reality (AR) technology, exemplified by devices such as the Microsoft HoloLens 2, has gained interest for its potential applications in preoperative guidance. This study explores the use of AR technology for perforator identification during deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap breast reconstruction. METHODS: A case series of five patients where an AR device was used to identify perforators during DIEP flap breast reconstruction is presented. The device was utilized to recognize preoperative perforators and map their extra- and intramuscular routes. Sound and/or color Doppler confirmation was used to verify the findings. RESULTS: In all five cases, the AR device successfully identified preoperative perforators and delineated their extra- and intramuscular routes. AR technology in perioperative visualization of vasculature offers the potential to enhance surgical precision and reduce operative times. By providing an augmented three-dimensional overlay of patients’ vascular structures, AR can facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of individual anatomy, ultimately improving surgical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: AR technology shows promise in enhancing perforator identification efficiency and deepening understanding of perforator trajectories during preoperative planning. Nonetheless, additional research is needed to establish whether the advantages of AR technology warrant its widespread adoption for perforator identification.