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3D Printing in Liver Surgery: A Systematic Review
Jan Sylwester Witowski1, Jasamine Coles-Black2, Tomasz Zbigniew Zuzak3
11 2nd Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College , Kraków, Poland .
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) printing models are increasingly used in liver surgery for planning and education. While accurate and beneficial, high costs and development time limit widespread adoption, requiring further research.
Area of Science:
- Medical Technology
- Surgical Innovation
- 3D Printing Applications
Background:
- Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is rapidly expanding into medical fields.
- This review explores 3D printing's role in liver surgery, focusing on models for planning, education, and simulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and analyze the applications of 3D-printed models in liver surgery.
- To extract data on technical properties, applications, and clinical impact of these models.
Main Methods:
- Extensive literature search of Ovid/MEDLINE and PubMed/EMBASE databases.
- Screening and analysis of 14 selected articles detailing 3D model utilization in liver surgery.
Main Results:
- 93% of reviewed articles highlighted models for preoperative planning and intraoperative guidance.
- PolyJet was the most common and expensive 3D printing technology used.
- 71% of models were reported as accurate, aiding understanding of complex patient anatomy.
Conclusions:
- 3D-printed models show promise for preoperative planning and medical education in liver surgery.
- High costs and lengthy development times are significant barriers to clinical implementation.
- Further randomized trials are needed to validate promising early results.
