Preoperative tracheal resection and reconstruction simulations with patient-specific three-dimensional models

Three-dimensional (3D) printers are increasingly being used for a variety of applications. In the surgical field, patient-specific organ models are increasingly being used as preoperative simulators for complicated surgeries. In this study, we describe the use of patient-specific 3D models for tracheal resection. We performed preoperative simulations for two patients diagnosed with tracheal ganglioneuroma and adenoid cystic carcinoma; the mimic operations suggested the necessity of a short cuff intubation tube across the surgical field, indicating the recommended amount of dissection around the trachea and bilateral hilum prior to tracheal reconstruction. The postoperative courses were free from any anastomotic or pulmonary complications. We described the availability of preoperative simulations for complicated tracheal resection and reconstruction using patient-specific 3D printed models. Mimic operations using the 3D printed models allowed accurate preparation and confidence in selection of the optimal surgical strategy.