title: Implantation of 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Aneurysm Models into Cadaveric Specimens: A New Training Paradigm to Allow for Improvements in Cerebrovascular Surgery and Research.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility of implanting 3D-printed brain aneurysm model in human cadavers and to assess their utility in neurosurgical research, complex case management/planning, and operative training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two 3D-printed aneurysm models, basilar apex and middle cerebral artery, were generated and implanted in four cadaveric specimens. The aneurysms were implanted at the same anatomical region as the modeled patient. Pterional and orbitozygomatic approaches were done on each specimen. The aneurysm implant, manipulation capabilities, and surgical clipping were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 3D aneurysm models were successfully implanted to the cadaveric specimens' arterial circulation in all cases. The features of the neck in terms of flexibility and its relationship with other arterial branches allowed for the practice of surgical maneuvering characteristic to aneurysm clipping. Furthermore, the relationship of the aneurysm dome with the surrounding structures allowed for better understanding of the aneurysmal local mass effect. Noticeably, all of these observations were done in a realistic environment provided by our customized embalming model for neurosurgical simulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  3D aneurysms models implanted in cadaveric specimens may represent an untapped training method for replicating clip technique; for practicing certain approaches to aneurysms specific to a particular patient; and for improving neurosurgical research.
authors.affiliation: Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Arnau
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benet
authors.affiliation: Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA ; Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, 38320 Tenerife, Spain.
authors.forename: Julio
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Plata-Bello
authors.affiliation: Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Adib A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Abla
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acevedo-Bolton
authors.affiliation: Center for Cerebrovascular Research, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saloner
authors.affiliation: Skull Base and Cerebrovascular Laboratory, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
authors.forename: Michael T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Lawton
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000473:pathology*; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*