Division of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
Erica Clemente
Department of Medical Sciences, University of Turin, Via Verdi 8, 10124 Turin, Italy
Enrico Checcucci
Department of Surgery, Candiolo Cancer Institute, FPO-IRCCS, 10060 Candiolo, Italy
Daniele Amparore
Division of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
Elisa Cerchia
Division of Pediatric Urology, Regina Margherita Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
Berenice Tulelli
Department of Pediatric Urology, Children and Mother Hospital, 69500 Lyon, France
Cristian Fiori
Division of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
Francesco Porpiglia
Division of Urology, Department of Oncology, School of Medicine, San Luigi Gonzaga Hospital, University of Turin, Regione Gonzole 10, 10043 Orbassano, Italy
Simona Gerocarni Nappo
Division of Pediatric Urology, Regina Margherita Hospital, 10126 Turin, Italy
In the last decades, a digital revolution has transformed several aspects of people’s lives worldwide. Consequently, many substantial changes have concerned numerous professional environments, including medical ones. Among all the different new instruments available in this field, the metaverse is the most futuristic one and seems to be likewise promising. The metaverse is an emerging resource in healthcare, resulting from the integration of virtual and physical reality. It is particularly valuable in surgical operations, since it allows surgeons to perfectly visualize patients’ anatomy. Metaverse applications even include the pediatric field—in particular, the implementation of children and parents’ shared decision-making processes, as well as prenatal diagnosis and fetal surgery. This resource further represents a rising opportunity in pediatric urology: the development of 3D virtual models and robotic surgery will allow surgeons to explore surgical fields, perfectionating their own professional skills. The metaverse will empower pediatric urologists, patients and their families in many ways, and each one of them deserves to be explored to the fullest. In this work, we aim to discuss the current applications of the metaverse in pediatric urology and its future perspectives.
