Aims: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusions (CTOs) has a lower success rate and a higher complication rate compared to PCI of non-occluded coronary arteries. Co-operation and supervision by a more experienced operator (proctoring) are associated with improved success of CTO procedures. This study aims to assess the feasibility of remote proctoring using web-based communication and mixed reality technology in CTO procedures.
Methods and results: The PCI operator was equipped with a Microsoft HoloLens 2 head-mounted display enabling visual and verbal interaction including holographic annotations with a remote proctor. Ten CTO procedures were performed by a single PCI operator assisted by a remote proctor. Audio and video communication was successfully established in all procedures. All procedures were possible to perform with a Microsoft HoloLens 2 head-mounted display. The PCI operator experienced the remote proctoring as useful.
Conclusion: Remote proctoring of CTO procedures using mixed reality technology was feasible. The impact of the method regarding procedural and patient outcomes needs to be assessed in new studies.
Keywords: Coronary intervention; HoloLens 2; Mixed reality; Remote proctoring.
© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology.