Systematic Reviews
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Artif Intell Gastroenterol. Jun 8, 2025; 6(1): 106746
Published online Jun 8, 2025. doi: 10.35712/aig.v6.i1.106746
Revolutionizing hepatobiliary surgery: Impact of three-dimensional imaging and virtual surgical planning on precision, complications, and patient outcomes
Himanshu Agrawal, Himanshu Tanwar, Nikhil Gupta
Himanshu Agrawal, Himanshu Tanwar, Department of Surgery, University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, GTB Hospital, Delhi 110095, India
Nikhil Gupta, Department of Surgery, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Delhi 110001, India
Author contributions: H Agrawal and N Gupta contributed to research conception and design; Agrawal H and Tanwar H contributed to data acquisition; Gupta N, Agrawal H, and Tanwar H contributed to data analysis and interpretation; Tanwar H and Agrawal H contributed to drafting the manuscript; Gupta N and Agrawal H contributed to critically revising the manuscript; Gupta N contributed to supervising the research; Gupta N, Agrawal H, and Tanwar H contributed to approval of the final manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All authors declare no competing financial interests or personal relationships that could influence the work presented in this manuscript.
PRISMA 2009 Checklist statement: The authors have read the PRISMA 2009 Checklist, and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the PRISMA 2009 Checklist.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Nikhil Gupta, FACS, FRCS (Gen Surg), Professor, Department of Surgery, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, BKS Marg, Delhi 110001, India. nikhil_ms26@yahoo.co.in
Received: March 6, 2025
Revised: April 1, 2025
Accepted: April 11, 2025
Published online: June 8, 2025
Processing time: 92 Days and 18.2 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Hepatobiliary surgery is complex and requires a thorough understanding of the liver’s anatomy, biliary system, and vasculature. Traditional imaging methods such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), although helpful, fail to provide three-dimensional (3D) relationships of these structures, which are critical for planning and executing complicated surgeries.

AIM

To explore the use of 3D imaging and virtual surgical planning (VSP) technologies to improve surgical accuracy, reduce complications, and enhance patient recovery in hepatobiliary surgeries.

METHODS

A comprehensive review of studies published between 2017 and 2024 was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. Studies selected focused on 3D imaging and VSP applications in hepatobiliary surgery, assessing surgical precision, complications, and patient outcomes. Thirty studies, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case reports, were included in the final analysis.

RESULTS

Various 3D imaging modalities, including multidetector CT, MRI, and 3D rotational angiography, provide high-resolution views of the liver’s vascular and biliary anatomy. VSP allows surgeons to simulate complex surgeries, improving preoperative planning and reducing complications like bleeding and bile leaks. Several studies have demonstrated improved surgical precision, reduced complications, and faster recovery times when 3D imaging and VSP were used in complex surgeries.

CONCLUSION

3D imaging and VSP technologies significantly enhance the accuracy and outcomes of hepatobiliary surgeries by providing individualized preoperative planning. While promising, further research, particularly randomized controlled trials, is needed to standardize protocols and evaluate long-term efficacy.

Keywords: Three-dimensional imaging; Virtual surgical planning; Hepatobiliary surgery; Surgical precision; Preoperative planning

Core Tip: Integration of three dimensional (3D) imaging and virtual surgical planning has led to enhanced surgical precision, providing detailed anatomical visualization that significantly improves surgical accuracy. This allows for better preoperative planning and reduces intraoperative complications. The use of 3D models has contributed to a reduction in complications, with decreased operative times, lower blood loss, and fewer postoperative issues such as bile leaks and vascular injuries, thereby improving patient safety. Surgeries that incorporate 3D-assisted planning also result in improved patient outcomes, including faster recovery, lower morbidity rates, and better long-term survival, particularly in complex procedures like liver transplantation and hepatectomies.