Using 3D individual models for minimizing vascular risk in pancreatic cancer surgery

Abstract

Introduction: Pancreatic tumoral surgery has fatal complications such as injuries of abdominal aortae, celiac trunk, portal vein and superior mesenteric artery. The aim of study was to describe the application of the life-size 3D patient-specific models with its vascular details which are used for minimizing vascular risks of intraoperative pancreatic tumor patients. Methods: CT scan of 20 patients with pancreatic cancer were transformed into 3D personalized-specific model. These models were analyzed to obtain detailed information of each tumor, its location, nourishing branches, and its neighborhood structures and the probability of variational anatomical possibilities were used as an intraoperative reference. Results: They allowed the localization of tumoral tissues together with vascular details and topographical relationships of pancreatic cancer. Tumoral elements including the dimensions, the location, the characteristics, and the neighboring arteries and the surgical strategy were demostrated with the 3D models. Vascular elements like the arterial structure of the intervention area, possible arterial variability, course of the arteries and arterial diameter and its pattern were determined and secure intervention areas were defined. Besides, the cases did not include infection, bleeding, and complications. Conclusion: Life-size 3D model is effective and reliable in achieving an accurate and safety procedure during pancreatic surgery, especially in surgically complex cases. 3D model provides an accurate representation of the tumor location, its vascular pedicle and vascular neighboring structures. It is therefore useful in surgical planning as it maximizes the possibility of ideal minimal invasive and targeted cancer surgery, as well as providing individualized information concerning vascular anatomy.