Joshi Parth, Jacobsohn Tamar, Polis Andrew, Shah Darshi, Gillette Brian, Schoor Richard
Department of Urology, New York University Langone Hospital Long Island, Mineola, NY, USA.
Department of Surgery, New York University Langone Hospital Long Island, Mineola, NY, USA.
Indian J Urol. 2024 Oct-Dec;40(4):250-255. doi: 10.4103/iju.iju_185_24. Epub 2024 Oct 1.
Individuals choose to undergo vasectomy reversal for a variety of reasons, including remarriage or due to the death of a child. To be proficient in this procedure, the surgeons need to be high volume and the trainees require a safe environment to develop their microsurgical skills. To overcome this challenge, we used three-dimensional (3D) printing to create a synthetic model of the vas deferens with properties similar to the human vas deferens. We distributed this model to experienced microsurgeons for evaluation.
The vas deferens model was created using thermoplastic polyurethane filament. The filament was then infused with a foaming agent to allow for temperature-dependent tuning of the material's stiffness. The model's outer diameter was 1 mm and the inner lumen was 0.5 mm. Fellowship-trained male reproductive urologists were recruited from the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction website. They used our model and judged it on several factors by completing a 13-question survey.
We received completed evaluations from five microsurgeons. Eighty percent of the surgeons were able to complete a full anastomosis on the model using 9-0 and 10-0 sutures. The majority of the completed anastomoses were performed using the one-layer technique. The average responses for the model's usefulness as a practice tool, a training tool, and overall assessment ranged from 72 to 79 out of 100. Comments for the improvement included the need for a more flexible and softer model.
We created a 3D-printed synthetic vas deferens that serves as a valuable training and practice tool.
个体因各种原因选择接受输精管复通术，包括再婚或孩子死亡等。为熟练掌握该手术，外科医生需要进行大量操作，而实习生则需要一个安全的环境来培养他们的显微外科技能。为克服这一挑战，我们使用三维（3D）打印技术创建了一个输精管合成模型，其特性与人类输精管相似。我们将该模型分发给经验丰富的显微外科医生进行评估。
输精管模型使用热塑性聚氨酯细丝制作。然后向细丝中注入发泡剂，以便根据温度调节材料的硬度。模型外径为1毫米，内腔为0.5毫米。从男性生殖研究协会网站招募了接受过专科培训的男性生殖泌尿科医生。他们使用我们的模型，并通过完成一份包含13个问题的调查问卷，从几个方面对其进行评判。
我们收到了五位显微外科医生的完整评估。80%的外科医生能够使用9-0和10-0缝线在模型上完成全层吻合。大多数完成的吻合采用单层技术。该模型作为练习工具、培训工具和整体评估的平均得分在72至79分（满分100分）之间。改进建议包括需要一个更灵活、更柔软的模型。
我们创建了一个3D打印的合成输精管，它是一种有价值的培训和练习工具。
