Impact of Three-dimensional Printing in Urology: State of the Art and Future Perspectives. A Systematic Review by ESUT-YAUWP Group

Abstract

Context: Three-dimensional (3D) printing has profoundly impacted biomedicine. It has been used to pattern cells; replicate tissues or full organs; create surgical replicas for planning, counseling, and training; and build medical device prototypes and prosthetics, and in numerous other applications.

Objective: To assess the impact of 3D printing for surgical planning, training and education, patient counseling, and costs in urology.

Evidence acquisition: A systematic literature review was performed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement.

Evidence synthesis: After screening, 4026 publications were identified for detailed review, of which 52 were included in the present systematic review: two papers reported the use of 3D-printing modeling for adrenal cancer, two papers for urethrovesical anastomosis, 24 papers for kidney transplantation and renal cancer, 13 papers for prostate cancer, seven papers for pelvicalyceal system procedures, and three papers for ureteral stents, and three papers reported 3D-printed biological scaffold development.

Conclusions: Three-dimensional printing shows revolutionary potentials for patient counseling, pre- and intraoperative surgical planning, and education in urology. Together with the "patient-tailored" presurgical planning, it puts the basis for 3D-bioprinting technology. Although costs and "production times" remain the major concerns, this kind of technology may represent a step forward to meet patients' and surgeons' expectations.

Patient summary: Three-dimensional printing has been used for several purposes to help the surgeon better understand anatomy, sharpen his/her skills, and guide the identification of lesions and their relationship with surrounding structures. It can be used for surgical planning, education, and patient counseling to improve the decision-making process.

Keywords: 3D printing; Education in urology; Patient counseling; Three-dimensional printing; Uro-technology.