To explore the application of 3D printing to simulate intracranial aneurysm microsurgery

No one wants to be operated on by a surgeon with little hands-on training, but throughout history finding the right model or cadaver has been a challenge for medical students.3D printing has brought many benefits to doctors and patients around the world.3D printing models and guidelines, whether showing organs such as kidneys, head and neck tumors or hip fractures, can better diagnose and treat and provide comprehensive visual assistance to everyone involved.

Simulation devices, while more complex, are also very helpful for students and doctors.Now, Swiss medical researchers at the University of Bern have developed a new training methodology, detailed in the recently published neurosurgical Simulator for Training in microsurgery for aneurysms – a user suitability study involving neurosurgeons and residents.Currently, training for intracranial aneurysms is limited by the difficulty involved in microsurgery.Medical students and surgeons often gain experience during operations by observing and assisting, performing operations under the supervision of a skilled physician, and learning videos.Although some types of virtual reality simulations are available, researchers are encouraged to improve the technology using patient-specific models that even include functions such as blood circulation and pulsation, which are important for training purposes but have historically been lacking.

Given the delicate nature of microsurgery for intracranial aneurysms, it is important for students to understand the vascular nature of aneurysms and the exact situation in the event of rupture.Students and doctors should be trained to fully understand the procedure and learn how to spot blockages (blockages).It is worrying that there may continue to be a shortage of trained cerebrovascular neurosurgeons due to the difficulty of conducting models and other experiential education.

The goal of the study was to create a progressive simulator based on a 3D-printed model that would train residents and neurosurgeons to trim intracranial aneurysms.The materials used are designed to mimic human tissue and include:

The arterial wall is unobstructed

Thickness.

Elastic.

. Pulsatile blood flow

A patient-specific 3D-printed skull with a model of the patient’s brain

Representation of a model in a training study: a patient-specific 3D-printed skull skull with a model of the patient’s brain.B MCA aneurysm model is located in Sylvian left fissure.C pulsating blood vessels and entering the pathological state of the model.D A brain retractor during operation by the resident.

Twenty-five neurosurgeons and residents took part in the study.Sixteen were in an early stage and had less than four years of training in neurosurgery.Nine patients had a late hospital stay and had been board-certified and had four to 15 years of training in neurosurgery.Residents and surgeons used a five-point scale to rate the effectiveness of the new simulator on the following items:

. Surgical simulation of anatomy

.Realism

The sense of touch

The sense of touch

.General usage

A specialist neurovascular surgeon manipulates the aneurysm model in a simulator and attempts to trim it.B A young stationed neurosurgeon.C Try tailoring.D Exploration after cropping

To assess the feasibility of future validated studies on the role of simulators in graduate neurosurgery training, expert neurosurgeons evaluated the participants’ clipping performance and made intergroup comparisons.

For the results of groups A and B, see the table below.

The nature of the clips (successful, unsuccessful and partially completed) and the number of years of experience between group A and Group B participants.

While 3D printing offers huge advantages for other industries such as aerospace, construction and energy, it is particularly impressive in changing the face of medicine by offering more patient-specific treatments.This study provides good evidence compared to traditional types of training.More than 80 percent of the participants thought the study was “a good choice for theoretical and traditional learning.”

“Until now, neurosurgeons have used only one indicator of performance: patient prognosis.The researchers concluded: “Our simulator can take other measures to improve and maintain skills.Further research is needed to confirm that the current simulator is a valuable clinical tool for measuring, evaluating and maintaining quality assurance in the training and education of the next generation of neurosurgeons.”