New Virtual Reality technology to repair hearts – British Heart Foundation

New Virtual Reality (VR) technology we're funding could improve outcomes for the thousands of patients who undergo a surgical or keyhole procedure for congenital heart disease every year.

The technology, which has been developed by researchers at Evelina London Childrens Hospital and Kings College London, brings together scans that are routinely used to plan congenital heart disease surgery to create a three-dimensional, beating digital double of the heart.

The researchers hope that using VR to plan and practice procedures will shorten operating times and reduce the need for multiple surgeries, leading to better outcomes and experiences for patients and their families. They hope that it could be in regular use within the next two years.

Trials of an early version of the technology, which used only echocardiograms (ultrasound scans of the heart) to create the VR heart, found that surgeons preferred it for understanding the anatomy of their patients hearts. They also reported that it increased their confidence and improved their decision making.

Ten year old Rosie from London was born with complex congenital heart disease, needing two operations. We caught up with her and her family as she tried out the new technology for herself.

Find out more about Rosie's story.

Our funding has supported the researchers to add two more types of scans into the system - computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While these types of scans are regularly used to help plan surgeries, they are usually only viewed on a flat screen.

Our Associate Medical Director, Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, said:

Congenital heart disease is the most common cause of birth defects in babies born in the UK. Every year thousands of heart operations and other procedures are performed for children and adults with congenital heart disease to stop them developing heart failure. Some people will need several procedures during their lifetime.

This new technology could help to make congenital heart disease surgery even more successful. It could also support people to better understand the heart or blood vessel abnormalities they are born with and what is being proposed to mend them, which can be empowering for people living with congenital heart disease.

The technology has also received significant funding from Evelina London Childrens Charity.

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New Virtual Reality technology to repair hearts - British Heart Foundation