Catheterization laboratories open the doors for Extended Realities—review of clinical applications in cardiology

The complexity and spatial relationships between vascular and cardiac structures, as well as anatomical diversity, pose a challenge for planning and performing cardiac interventions. Medical imaging, especially precise three-dimensional imaging techniques, plays a key role in the decision-making process. While traditional imaging methods like angiography, echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging remain gold standards, they have limitations in representing spatial relationships effectively. To overcome these limitations, advanced techniques such as three-dimensional printing, three-dimensional modelling, and Extended Realities are needed. Focusing on Extended Realities, their main advantages are direct spatial visualization based on medical data, interaction with objects, and immersion in cardiac anatomy. These benefits impact procedural planning and intra-procedural navigation. The following publication presents current applications, benefits, drawbacks, and limitations of Virtual, Augmented, and Mixed Reality technologies in cardiac interventions. The aim of this review is to improve understanding and utilization of the entire spectrum of these innovative tools in clinical practice.