Role of the three-dimensional printing technology in complex laparoscopic renal surgery: a renal tumor in a horseshoe kidney

PURPOSE: To report our initial experience using a patient-specific 3D-printed renal tumor model for the surgical planning of a complex heminephrectomy in a horseshoe kidney. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We selected a clinical case for a complex laparoscopic surgery consisting in a 53 year-old male presenting a local recurrence of a renal tumor in a horseshoe kidney with aberrant vascularisation previously treated with a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. He is now proposed for a laparoscopic left heminephrectomy. Along with conventional imaging, a real-size 3D-printed renal model was used to plan de surgical approach. The perioperative experience of the surgical team was recorded. RESULTS: The surgical team found the patient-specific 3D printed model useful for a better understanding of the anatomy and an easier surgical planning. CONCLUSION: The use of patient-specific 3D-printed renal models seem to be helpful for the surgical planning in complex renal tumors.