Exploring the Impact of Using Patient-Specific 3D Prints during Consent for Skull Base Neurosurgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Imaging
• Patient Education

Background:

• Informed consent is crucial for ethical medical practice.
• Patient anxiety and understanding of complex pathologies can be barriers to effective consent.
• Traditional methods may not fully convey the intricacies of skull base surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of personalized 3D-printed skull base pathology models on informed consent.
• To assess changes in patient anxiety levels and perceived understanding of surgical risks.
• To explore patient engagement and satisfaction with 3D model-assisted consent.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 14 patients undergoing elective skull base surgery.
• Patients interacted with personalized 3D-printed models derived from DICOM files.
• Pre- and post-interaction questionnaires assessed understanding, anxiety, and decision-making involvement.

Main Results:

• A trend towards reduced patient-reported anxiety and enhanced perceived involvement in treatment was observed.
• 93% of patients felt better about their operation and understood surgical anatomy more clearly.
• A net improvement in understanding surgical risks and lesion extent was noted, with 93% advocating for model access.

Conclusions:

• Personalized 3D-printed models effectively enhance the informed consent process in skull base neurosurgery.
• These models positively impact patient understanding of pathology and surgical risks.
• The use of 3D models shows potential in reducing patient anxiety and improving overall surgical experience.