On March 11th, in Santiago, Chile, Dr. Alberto Rodriguez-Navarro performed the first augmented reality (AR)-enhanced abdominal surgery in the world. This procedure employed the Magnetic Assisted Robotic Surgery (MARS) system along with Meta's Quest 3 XR headset, in a gallbladder removal surgery. 

It has showcased how AR can enhance surgical precision and potentially reduce recovery times for patients according to Dr.Rodriguez. The MARS system, which combines magnetic surgery and robotics, offers surgeons improved visualization and control, making procedures less invasive and more efficient.

Dr. Rodriguez-Navarro, developed the MARS system to address the limitations of traditional surgical techniques. By integrating AR with magnetic technology, the system provides real-time data and an enhanced view of the surgical field, which is critical for operations requiring high precision.

Levita Magnetics, founded by Dr.Rodriguez- Navarro is at the forefront of this technology. The company works on the development of the application of AR in surgery. This includes potential future applications in telesurgery and AI-driven surgical solutions, with a mission of democratizing access to advanced surgical techniques around the world. 

The success of this surgery will be followed with a clinical trial according to Dr.Rodriguez in order to validate the effectiveness of AR in surgical procedures. 

This development takes part of a wider trend of integrating digital innovations into healthcare in order to make interventions safer, less invasive, and more accessible.