Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a disruptive technology that is spreading rapidly to various domains, including healthcare. It enables the creation of graspable, patient-specific, anatomical models generated from medical images. In addition, it facilitates the understanding of anatomical details, eases patient counselling and contributes to education and training of students and residents by enhancing the ability to hold and show a physical object. The potential of this technology is being evaluated by multiple medical specialities including general surgery. There has been a tenfold increase in the number of publications annually over the last decade. Approximately 70% of these papers focused on liver and kidney models, produced mainly for pre-interventional planning, as well as for educational and training purposes. It has been reported that material jetting and material extrusion are the most commonly used printing technologies.

The potential benefits of this technology may help in developing new hospital facilities in near future for improving surgical training, research, and patient care.

Source: SurgEndosc. 2020 Jan;34(1):1-13.