14 DAY TRIAL // This week we have been telling you a lot about 3D printing and how it is helping the advancement of the medical field.
Today’s story takes us to a hospital in Barcelona, where a 5-year old little boy named Marc is a patient. He is suffering from a common childhood cancer form, neuroblastoma and is currently undergoing treatment to keep the disease under control. Sadly, this left a rather large tumor in his stomach area.
Until now, the tumor has been considered inoperable, but the doctors at the Sant Joan de Déu in Barcelona didn't want to give up and continued to look for solutions.
Surgeons tried removing the tumor twice but failed because they couldn't gain access to it. The problem is that the tumor has weaseled itself around so many important blood vessels and arteries and organs, making the intervention an extremely complicated one.
But then the surgeons came up with a possible solution. As noted by El Periodico, they used 3D printed technology to print replicas of the tumor, blood vessels and arteries. This way they could have a model to practice before doing the actual operation.
The team of medical doctors prepped 10 days for the intervention, and during the interval they performed a lot of surgeries on the 3D printed tumor, so they could get it right when they opened the child up.
For the blood vessels, arteries and organs the team used hard-printed material, while the tumor was 3D printed using a soft, translucent resin. The goal was the complete extraction of the tumor without damaging any of the blood vessels or organs, while doing so.
Once they mastered the technique, the doctors moved on to the real deal. And you’ll be glad to know, thanks to the hours spend practicing on the 3D printed, accurate models, they were able to successfully perform the operation on the little boy.
Most importantly, Marc is expected to make a full recovery and he will not need further surgeries. Hopefully, the child in the story has beaten cancer for good and 3D printing had a big part to play in his success.
It appears 3D printing will provide the support needed for the medical field to advance and we’re proven this is the case every day. For example, yesterday we told you 3D printed antibiotic implants will change the way we administer this vital medication by delivering the needed benefactor properties right on target.