# A new technology for a novel clinical approach in a dog with a complex vascular anomaly: the “extended reality”

## TL;DR

Extended reality technologies were used for the first time in veterinary medicine to plan and execute a complex surgical correction in a dog with a vascular anomaly.

## Contribution

This is the first documented use of extended reality for surgical planning and execution in veterinary medicine for complex vascular defects.

## Key findings

- Virtual and augmented reality were successfully used to plan and perform surgery on a dog with a complex vascular anomaly.
- Post-surgery echocardiography showed no residual flow and improved ventricular dimensions over an 18-month follow-up.
- The surgery was completed without complications and the dog fully recovered.

## Abstract

Extended reality includes both virtual and augmented realities. In virtual reality objects are rendered in an artificial environment where the user can move and interact with a head mounted display. In augmented reality virtual objects are superimposed to real environment enriching it via a head mounted display. In human medicine these technologies have been already used for educational surgical purposes, but remain relatively unknown in veterinary medicine. We report a case of a 1-year-old, female, French bulldog presented for exercise intolerance and dyspnea. Echocardiography showed signs of left ventricular enlargement with reduced fractional shortening and turbulent flow distal to the pulmonary artery bifurcation. Computed tomography revealed a complex vascular network comprising the descending aorta and left pulmonary artery resembling a patent ductus arteriosus. Virtual reality was used for the surgical planning and a left thoracotomy was performed to close the abnormal vessel at the level of the entrance in the left pulmonary artery with augmented reality assistance. No complications were reported during or after the surgery and the dog completely recovered. Echocardiographic findings 3 days, 1 month and 18 months after the surgery demonstrated absence of residual flow and improving ventricular dimensions. To our knowledge this report documents the first use of extended reality for the visualization, planning and execution of the surgical correction of a complex vascular defect in veterinary medicine.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11259-025-10668-1.