Application of 3D printing technology-assisted microcatheter shaping in the embolization in anterior communicating ar-tery aneurysm intervention

FAN Zhixiang; CUI Yanfeng; XU Hao; GAO Zhikang; ZHANG Qingzhen; YING Tingsong; WU Zichen

Abstract：Objective To explore the application value of 3D printing technology in the treatment of anterior traffic artery em-bolization.Methods Forty patients diagnosed with anterior communicating artery aneurysm through cerebral angiography in our hospital were randomly divided into two groups,with 20 cases in the observation group and 20 cases in the control group.In the control group,the operators directly shaped the microcatheter based on their surgical experience after normal angiography during the surgery.In the observation group,a 3D-DSA angiography model of the anterior communicating artery aneurysm was created using processed data,and the microcatheter was shaped with the assistance of the model before the surgery.The success rate of initial microcatheter shaping,time from the last shaping of microcatheter to reaching the desired position for releasing the spring coil,immediate postoperative scores,recovery time from postoperative to discharge,and negative rate of follow-up after 6 months were compared between the two groups.Results The success rate of the first shaping of the microcatheter during sur-gery in the observation group was 75%(15/20).After the last shaping of the microcatheter,the time to reach the ideal release spring position through the guiding catheter was(49.35±9.49)seconds.Immediate postoperative score was 4(4,4)points,and the recovery time from postoperative to discharge was(3.25±1.02)days.In the control group,the success rate of the first shaping of the microcatheter during surgery was 40%(8/20).After the last shaping of the microcatheter,the time to reach the ideal release spring position through the guiding catheter was(79.85±17.47)seconds.Immediate postoperative score was 3(3,4)points,and the recovery time from postoperative to discharge was(4.15±1.27)days.The differences between the two groups were statistically significant(P<0.05).However,the negative rate of follow-up in the experimental group was 95%after 6 months,while it was 90%in the control group,and the difference was not statistically significant(P>0.05).Conclusion Com-pared with the traditional microcatheter shaping method,the application of 3D printing technology can improve the success rate of microcatheter shaping in surgery for the first time,reduce the operation time and postoperative recovery time,significantly im-prove the accuracy,stability,and surgical outcome of shaped microcatheters.