According to Prof. Bernhard, the clearer view offered by the 3D printed model increases the ability to perform precise and successful kidney-sparing surgery under super selective clamping. The model aids with pre-surgery planning, identifying the delicate nearby arteries and vessels that can result in complete kidney removal if damaged.
“A scan gives us good information, but it’s in 2D,” said Prof. Bernhard. “This relies on the surgeon to mentally reconstruct the tumor volume in 3D and estimate its location inside of the total volume of the kidney. The same process has to be done to clearly understand the relations between the tumor, the vessels and the collecting system. As you can imagine, this is difficult and time-consuming for the surgeon.
“Conversely, having a 3D printed kidney model in your hands that corresponds specifically to that of the patient you’re going to operate on, quite literally, offers us a view from a new perspective. The only thing more accurate than that is the patient himself,” he added.
Prof. Bernhard initiated a research project entitled “Rein 3D Print.” The study aims to improve the communication process with patients and assess their satisfaction with 3D printed models for pre-therapeutic education. Moreover, boosting patient understanding of their surgical procedure can potentially increase the possibilities of ambulatory care (same-day surgery that doesn’t necessitate an overnight stay). Crucial to the project is the J750, which was acquired from Stratasys reseller and funded by the European Union and the Regional Council of France’s Nouvelle Aquitaine region.
