3D Printing in the pre-surgical process

3D Printing in the pre-surgical process? When it comes to the medical industry, 3D printing is being added to different aspects where it is proving to be such an essential part of how they can improve on how things are currently being done. This isn’t to say things are not being done well, with things changing and technology gets implemented, adapting, and improving is always something different industries can apply.

We’ve always had that strive to be better mentality and think all other industries think the same thing. 3D printing is emerging as a new diagnostic tool for pre-surgical planning. Surgeons can make the use of 3D printed replicas of internal organs, ahead of performing any life-threatening surgeries.

3D printed models are extremely advantageous to surgeons in their preoperative planning. Handling these physical replicas engages active spatial perception skills, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the presented information in an inherently intuitive manner that cannot be achieved with conventional methods of imaging review that use screen based 2D and volume rendered representations.

With 3D printing the investigators are developing a novel technique to create 3D models which are derived directly from extremely high-resolution medical images that are superior in spatial and contrast resolution to current 3D modelling methods. This produces patient specific models that contain previously unachievable special fidelity and soft tissue differentiation.

Having patient specific models allows them to better understand the state of the patient, but also they could see how to properly treat the patient, even before actually looking into the patient physically. This allows surgeons to prepare for any difficulties or scenarios that may occur based on the state of the patient. For this reason 3D printing in the pre-surgical process could be essential.

3D Printing pre-surgical replicas for post-surgical success

Two aspects that could see a vast improvement if 3D diagnostic quality models are introduced as a preoperative procedure will be a reduced surgical time and improved post-surgical outcomes. This is due to surgeons having a better understanding and 3D visual perspective of what it is that need to be done, additionally, due to having oversight of the patients state, they can make certain decisions in order avoid harsh recovery and take preventive measures.

Aside from improving how surgeons performing surgery with the help of 3D printing in de pre-surgical process, doctors could also use 3D printed replicas to better explain to their patients exactly what it is that is going on and the steps that needs to be taken. It allows them to put their patients at ease and provide a better explanation.

Compared to how it goes traditionally, patients are quite unaware of how certain kinds of surgery might go, but also the surgeons are no longer going in blindly and have a better visual perspective of what it is they can expect and visualize the procedure, so we see from a pre-surgical perspective how the addition of 3D printing in the pre-surgical process can bring a variety of benefits to patients and surgeons.

This is just one of the innovative ways that 3D printing is assisting the healthcare industry by being implemented in different ways. Though there are a lot of different factors to consider, especially when it comes to the health of the patient, it is easy to see more sectors within the health industry are considering it.

3D printing pre-surgical replicas saving lives?

We have seen the benefits when it comes to prosthetics and orthopaedics, so it is quite easy to see why different sectors of the health industry are considering it. With 3D printing in the pre-surgical process the way they prepare themselves for before conducting surgery, not only is 3D printing helping them be more effective but also better save lives.

3D printing saving lives is certainly something that was not thought of years ago and is slowly becoming a reality with many more possibilities still to be discovered within the health industry. 3D printing in the pre-surgical process is certain an area to look into.