An accurate tool to inform patients before RAPN: 3D-printed kidney model

Introduction & Objectives: Only few didactic tools are currently in use to deliver medical and surgical information. Technological developments such as 3D-printing seem to represent a great opportunity to fulfil that purpose. The aim of this study was to assess whether a case-specific 3D-printed kidney model could improve patients’ knowledge and comprehension prior to nephron-sparing surgery for kidney tumour. Materials & Methods: A prospective and comparative monocentric study was conducted between December 2017 and May 2019. Patients scheduled for robotic partial nephrectomy (RAPN) by a single surgeon were randomly assigned to 2 groups. In the experimental group, patients were presented with their own 3D-printed kidney modelisation (Synapse 3D software, Fujifilm® and Stratasys J750) the day before surgery. All the patients then answered a questionnaire evaluating their preoperative understanding based on 3 topics: renal anatomy and physiology, their own disease characteristics and surgical strategy, including complication risks. Data were collected prospectively after written consent to the UroCCR database (NCT03293563) and analysed with Welch tests. Results: 90 patients were enrolled and received RAPN, 45 of them were included in the 3D-model group. All the patients filled in the questionnaire. Patients who observed the printed model of their own kidney had better understanding scores than patients who didn't. Their answers were superior concerning renal anatomy and physiology (accuracy rate: 92.8% vs 71.6%, p<0.001); specific tumoral anatomy (91.2% vs 54.6%, p<0.001) and surgical strategy (84.1% vs 57.7%, p<0.001). Conclusions: Case-specific 3D-printed models seem to be an accurate information medium from surgeons to patients. It can be useful to enrich doctor to patient relationship during consultation and play a forensic role. As far as we know, this is the largest study on the subject.