Three-dimensional printing for preoperative rehearsal and intraoperative navigation during laparoscopic rectal cancer surgery with left colic artery preservation

Figure 1 Flowchart of this retrospective case control study. RC: Rectal cancer; 3D: Three dimensional.

Figure 2 Overview of the four types of inferior mesenteric artery classification. A: Schematic diagrams; B: Based on enhanced computed tomography display; C: Display using three-dimensional printing models. AA: Abdominal aorta; IMA: Inferior mesenteric artery; LCA: Left colic artery; SA: Sigmoid artery; SRA: Superior rectal artery.

Figure 3 Clinical application of three-dimensional inferior mesenteric artery model in laparoscopic radical resection with preservation of the left colic artery. A: Comparison between the three-dimensional printed model and intraoperative photograph (inferior mesenteric artery type I); B: Comparison between the three-dimensional printed model and intraoperative photograph (inferior mesenteric artery type III). AA: Abdominal aorta; IMA: Inferior mesenteric artery; LCA: Left colic artery; IMV: Inferior mesenteric vein; SA: Sigmoid artery; SRA: Superior rectal artery.