Holographic image-guided thoracoscopic surgery: possibility of usefulness for esophageal cancer patients with abnormal artery

Background With the recent improvement of medical image analysis technology, three-dimensional (3D) holograms technology is beginning to be used as intraoperative image support. Case presentation We used a wearable holographic computer during thoracoscopic esophagectomy in a 70-year-old man with esophageal cancer. During lymph node dissection around the right recurrent laryngeal nerve, abnormal blood vessels were observed beside the right subclavian artery (RSA). As a result of confirming the anatomical variation of the right vertebral artery (RVA) using the 3D holograms, it was possible to understand that the RVA branched from a low position on the RSA. Conclusions Holographic image-guided thoracoscopic esophagectomy using wearable holographic computer provided better spatial recognition of vascular variation and safe lymph node dissection.