The surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) has seen significant advancements with the introduction of Fenestrated Endovascular Aortic Repair (FEVAR). The Fenestrated TREO®, an Abdominal Stent-Graft System by Terumo Aortic, represents a notable surgical innovation. It offers a highly effective solution for patients who do not qualify for traditional Endovascular Aortic Repair (EVAR). However, the complexity of the FEVAR procedure poses substantial challenges in training clinicians, primarily due to the limited availability of prototype devices for hands-on practice. This research addresses the gap by developing a Virtual Reality (VR) simulation to train clinicians on the Fenestrated TREO procedure. Building upon interactive 3D models and immersive interaction paradigms, this simulation facilitates procedural training for this innovative deployment technique in a safe rehearsing environment.

User testing was conducted involving five Terumo Aortic Engineers and four students from The Glasgow School of Art to assess the usability of the VR simulation, and the sense of perceived presence (ITC_SOPI). Results showed high usability (SUS = 81.1), and encouraging outcomes for Spatial Presence (M=3.858 ±0.5), Engagement (M=3.811 ±0.52), and Ecological Validity (M=3.616 ±0.69), with low Negative Effects (M=1.555 ±0.65). This demonstrates the potential of the VR simulation to provide an engaging training experience and support the procedural learning for FEVAR, although further improvements for increased realism and task complexity are recommended. While these results are encouraging, more research is needed to increase the graphical fidelity and determine the overall validity of the simulation.