Registration accuracy comparing different rendering techniques on local vs external virtual 3D liver model reconstruction for vascular landmark setting by intraoperative ultrasound in augmented reality navigated liver resection

Purpose Augmented reality navigation in liver surgery still faces technical challenges like insufficient registration accuracy. This study compared registration accuracy between local and external virtual 3D liver models (vir3DLivers) generated with different rendering techniques and the use of the left vs right main portal vein branch (LPV vs RPV) for landmark setting. The study should further examine how registration accuracy behaves with increasing distance from the ROI. Methods Retrospective registration accuracy analysis of an optical intraoperative 3D navigation system, used in 13 liver tumor patients undergoing liver resection/thermal ablation. Results 109 measurements in 13 patients were performed. Registration accuracy with local and external vir3DLivers was comparable (8.76 +/- 0.9 mm vs 7.85 +/- 0.9 mm; 95% CI = -0.73 to 2.55 mm; p = 0.272). Registrations via the LPV demonstrated significantly higher accuracy than via the RPV (6.2 +/- 0.85 mm vs 10.41 +/- 0.99 mm, 95% CI = 2.39 to 6.03 mm, p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant positive but weak correlation between the accuracy (d(Feature)) and the distance from the ROI (d(ROI)) (r = 0.298; p = 0.002). Conclusion Despite basing on different rendering techniques both local and external vir3DLivers have comparable registration accuracy, while LPV-based registrations significantly outperform RPV-based ones in accuracy. Higher accuracy can be assumed within distances of up to a few centimeters around the ROI.