Improved graft survival by using three-dimensional printing of intra-abdominal cavity to prevent large-for-size syndrome in liver transplantation
- Author:
Sunghae PARK
1
;
Gyu-Seong CHOI
;
Jong Man KIM
;
Sanghoon LEE
;
Jae-Won JOH
;
Jinsoo RHU
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- From: Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery 2025;29(1):21-31
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Background:s/Aims: While large-for-size syndrome is uncommon in liver transplantation (LT), it can result in fatal outcome. To prevent such fatality, we manufactured 3D-printed intra-abdominal cavity replicas to provide intuitive understanding of the sizes of the graft and the patient’s abdomen in patients with small body size between July 2020 and February 2022.
Methods:Clinical outcomes were compared between patients using our 3D model during LT, and patients who underwent LT without 3D model by using 1 : 5 ratio propensity score-matched analysis.
Results:After matching, a total of 20 patients using 3D-printed abdominal cavity model and 100 patients of the control group were included in this study. There were no significant differences in 30-day postoperative complication (50.0% vs. 64.0%, p = 0.356) and the incidence of large-for-size syndrome (0% vs. 7%, p = 0.599). Overall survival of the 3D-printed group was similar to that of the control group (p = 0.665), but graft survival was significantly superior in the 3D-printed group, compared to the control group (p = 0.034).
Conclusions:Since it showed better graft survival, as well as low cost and short production time, our 3D-printing protocol can be a feasible option for patients with small abdominal cavity to prevent large-for-size syndrome after LT.
