Merging virtual and physical experiences: extended realities in cardiovascular medicine

Technological advancement and the COVID-19 pandemic have brought virtual learning and working into our daily lives. Extended realities (XR), an umbrella term for all the immersive technologies that merge virtual and physical experiences, will undoubtedly be an indispensable part of future clinical practice. The intuitive and three-dimensional nature of XR has great potential to benefit healthcare providers and empower patients and physicians. In the past decade, the implementation of XR into cardiovascular medicine has flourished such that it is now integrated into medical training, patient education, pre-procedural planning, intra-procedural visualization, and post-procedural care. This review article discussed how XR could provide innovative care and complement traditional practice, as well as addressing its limitations and considering its future perspectives.

Automated summary

Technological advancements and the COVID-19 pandemic have led to the integration of virtual learning and work in our daily lives. Extended realities (XR), which encompass immersive technologies merging virtual and physical experiences, have become increasingly important in clinical practice. XR's intuitive and three-dimensional nature offers great potential for healthcare providers, patients, and physicians. This review article explores how XR can provide innovative care, complement traditional practices, and discusses limitations and future perspectives.