Retrospective Cohort Study on 3D Printing Technology for Preoperative Rehearsal and Intraoperative Navigation in Laparoscopic Rectal Cancer Surgery with Left Colic Artery Preservation

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that preserving the left colic artery (LCA) during laparoscopic radical resection for rectal cancer (RC) can maintain the blood supply to the remaining colon without compromising the oncological outcomes. However, anatomical variations in the branches of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) and LCA present significant surgical challenges. Here, we construct a 3D printing IMA model for preoperative rehearsal and intraoperative navigation to analyze its positive impact on surgical safety. Methods We retrospectively collected clinical dates from patients with RC who received laparoscopic radical resection from January 2022 to May 2024 at Fuyang City People's Hospital. Patients were divided into 3D printing group and control group and their perioperative characteristics were statistically analyzed. Results 172 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical resection for RC were included in the study. Among them, a total of 32 patients were excluded due to exclusion criteria. Finally, observe group (3D printing group) was comprised of 72 patients, while control group consisted of 68 patients. Operating time (196.7 ± 44.5 vs. 233.3 ± 44.3 min, p < 0.001), intraoperative blood loss (43.9 ± 31.3 vs. 58.2 ± 30.8 ml, p = 0.005), duration of hospitalization (14.3 ± 5.1 vs. 18.7 ± 9.2 days, p < 0.001), and postoperative recovery time (9.1 ± 5.1 vs. 11.9 ± 7.1 days, p = 0.007) were significantly lower in observe group than in control group. There were no significant differences in the number of lymph node dissections, presence of lymph vessel invasion, postoperative intestinal obstruction and anastomotic leakage between the two groups. Conclusions Utilization of a 3D-printed IMA model in laparoscopic radical resection of RC can assist the surgeon in understanding the LCA anatomy preoperatively, reducing intraoperative bleeding, shortening operating time.