The First International Surgical Grand Rounds Using Immersive Mixed Reality Headset Devices

Mahajan, Arushi P.; Inniss, Donovan A.; Benedict, Michelle D.; Dennis, Alexander A.; Kantor, Taylor; Kinross, James M.; Cohen, Mark S.

Introduction: COVID-19 has created experiential barriers for surgical learners to interact at the bedside for teaching/case presentations. We hypothesized that an international Grand Rounds using the Microsoft HoloLens2 extended reality (XR) headset creates an improved bedside-learning experience compared with traditional Grand Rounds formats. Methods: In December 2020, we hosted (through partnership with the University of Michigan and Imperial College of London) the world’s first International Grand Rounds experience using the HoloLens2 XR headset broadcasting transatlantic bedside rounding on 3 complex surgical patients to an international audience of 154 faculty, residents, and medical trainees. Participants completed qualitative pre- and post-event surveys. Results: Of the 154 participants, 96 (62%) completed pre-surveys and 70 (45%) completed both the pre-and post-surveys. Respondents (average age 39.3 years [43% women;57% men;80 US;16 UK]) included 30 medical students, 30 faculty, 7 residents, and 29 hospital administrators. Pre-event survey: 76% had little or no experience before with XR devices;92% thought development/implementation of XR medical curricula was valuable;and 96% felt tele-rounding using XR technology was important for the current era. Post survey: 98% respondents thought the ability to visualize bedside clinical findings, imaging, and lab-tests via XR rounding was highly valuable and this novel XR international Grand Rounds format was superior to traditional Grand Rounds. Conclusion: Almost all (98%) participants in the world’s first International Grand Rounds on a Mixed Reality Headset felt this immersive extended reality virtual experience allowed visualization of clinical findings, imaging, and labs at the patient’s bedside and was superior to a traditional Grand Rounds format.