Creation of a multidisciplinary and multicenter study group for the use of 3D printing in general thoracic surgery: lessons learned in our first year experience

Figures & data

Figure 1 Printers used in the study (A) Formlabs Form 2; (B) Stratassys Fortus 450; (C) Stratassys J750.

Figure 2 Two models of tracheal stenosis. (A) Lateral view, printed using resin. (B) and (C), anterior and posterior views, respectively, of tracheal stenosis created using FDM technology.

Figure 3 Two chest tumor models printed using FDM technology.

Figure 4 Evolution of time for segmentation

Table 1 Survey results

	5 points	6 points	7 points	8 points	9 points	10 points
Question 1	0	1 (3.8%)	0	0	2 (7.7%)	23 (88.5%)
Question 2	0	0	0	0	4 (15.4%)	22 (84.6%)
Question 3	2 (7.7%)	0	1 (3.8%)	1 (3.8%)	2 (7.7%)	20 (76.9%)
Question 4	0	0	2 (7.7%)	2 (7.7%)	3 (11.5%)	19 (73.1%)
Question 5*	3 (17.6%)	0	3 (17.6%)	0	1 (5.9%)	10 (58.8%)
Question 6	0	0	1 (3.8%)	1 (3.8%)	1 (3.8%)	23 (88.5%)
Question 7	0	0	1 (3.8%)	1 (3.8%)	3 (11.5%)	21 (80.8%)

Note: In question 5 there are only 17 answers, because in 9 cases there were only virtual models.

Figure 5 Team work is essential.