[Application of 3D visualization and 3D printing in individualized precision surgery for Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and...

To explore the application of 3D visualization and 3D printing in individualized precision surgical treatment of Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

We retrospectively analyzed the data of 10 patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma undergoing surgeries under the guidance of 3D visualization and 3D printing in the Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital from May 2016 to March 2019. Thin-section CT data of the patients were collected for 3D reconstruction and 3D printing, and the 3D printed models were used for observing the 3D relationship of tumor with the intrahepatic bile duct, hepatic artery, portal vein and hepatic vein system and for performing preoperative simulated surgery and surgical planning. The 3D printed models were subsequently used for real-time intraoperative navigation to guide surgeries in the operating room.

3D visualization models were successfully reconstructed for all the 10 patients and printed into 3D models. The 3D visualization types in Bismuth-Corlette classification included type Ⅲa (4 cases), type Ⅲb (4 cases), and type Ⅳ (2 cases); 4 patients showed portal vein variation, 3 had hepatic artery variation, and 2 had both portal vein and hepatic artery variations. Two patients were found to have trifurcation type of portal vein variation, one had "I-shaped" variation, and one showed the absence of the right anterior branch of the portal vein; 3 patients had hepatic artery variations with the left hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery (1 case) and the right hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery (2 cases). Four patients with type Ⅲb underwent left hepatectomy; 4 with type Ⅲa received right hepatectomy; 1 patient with of type Ⅳ received peripheral hepatic resection and another underwent left hepatectomy. The results of preoperative 3D reconstruction, 3D printed model and preoperative planning were consistent with the intraoperative findings. The operative time was 452±75.12 min with a mean intraoperative blood loss of 356±62.35 mL and a mean hospital stay of 15 ± 4.61 days in these cases. One patient had bile leakage and 3 patients had pleural effusion postoperatively, and they were discharged after drainage and medications. No liver failure or death occurred in these cases perioperatively.

3D visualization and 3D printing can facilitate accurate preoperative assessment, surgical planning and surgical procedure optimization for Bismuth-Corlette type Ⅲ and Ⅳ hilar cholangiocarcinoma to improve surgical safety and reduce surgical risks especially in cases of intrahepatic vascular variations.