The Role of Immersive Technologies in Urological Simulation

The purpose of simulation is to refine the process of surgical training through valid, reliable, and feasible platforms. Immersive technology describes a spectrum of simulation platforms which balance the physical world on one end and the virtual world on the other. The value of immersive technology in urological simulation has been evidenced by a prolific literature base. This has demonstrated its pedagogic value and cost-efficiency with increasing investments in science and technology in order to advance the models and modalities available to deliver simulation. Urology is a unique specialty, at the forefront of innovative surgical techniques, with a trend towards progressively minimally invasive surgery, featuring a range of laparoscopic, robotic and endoscopic procedures, each associated with a unique learning curve. As a result, it is important to cater the simulation model to the type of urological procedure practiced and the needs of the learner. This chapter also discusses how the implementation of these technologies both in surgical training and in the operating theatre has been accelerated by several historic pressures on surgical training, such as the introduction of the European Working Time Directive and more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed deficiencies in existing systems and reiterated the value of virtual platforms. These technologies are beneficial in the formative years of surgical training, aiding the development of technical and non-technical skills as well as in the real-life operative setting, clinical application, enhancing patient treatment and aiding doctor-patient collaboration. Finally, research and innovation consider the potential of immersive technologies to advance surgical practice and techniques by providing an intermediary between laboratory based research and the real world, bypassing some of the ethical concerns associated with conducting research in the context of surgery.