3D model 'rehearsal' helps doctor remove tumour

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3D model rehearsal helps doctor remove tumour

The life-size 3D kidney was used pre-operatively to pinpoint the exact location of the 4-centimetre big cancerous tumour.

Dubai - The female patient is recovering and is expected to be discharged soon.

Asma Ali Zain

Published: Mon 12 Dec 2016, 8:49 PM

Last updated: Mon 12 Dec 2016, 10:59 PM

A doctor in Dubai 'rehearsed' a complicated surgery on a 3D model to remove a deep tumour from the kidney of a female Arab patient.
The life-size 3D kidney - modelled in the US and flown to Dubai - was used pre-operatively to pinpoint the exact location of the 4-centimetre big cancerous tumour, stop excessive bleeding and reduce operating times, said the doctor who performed the surgery at Dubai Hospital last week.
The hospital is the first in the MENA region to use this technology for kidney surgery. "If we hadn't used the model, the patient would have had to have her kidney removed," said Dr Yasir Al Saeedi, the consultant urologist who performed the surgery along with two other doctors.
The 42-year-old Palestinian female patient is recovering and is expected to be discharged soon.
"The patient came to the hospital with abdominal pain, a tumour diagnosis and a CT scan which did not show anything apparently wrong," said Dr Yasir. The tumour was deep-seated, not visible clearly and was next to the renal artery and ureter. "Without this technology, we would have not been able to perform the surgery with as much accuracy," he said.
Dr Yasir said that due to the presence of the model, it was easy for the doctors to plan the surgery. "We could easily decide how to approach the tumour and when to clamp the renal artery to block the bleeding."
In terms of a normal surgery, which the doctor has been doing for years, Dr Yasir said that it "was the highest level of difficulty in removing the tumour."
Practising on the model also brought down the time spent on the surgery. "It normally takes anywhere between three to five hours without 3D but in this case, we reduced the surgery time by an hour and took out the tumour in just 28 minutes," he explained.
In renal surgeries the risk of death is less than one per cent, however, the patient risks losing a kidney.

UAE's 3D strategy for health services

In May, the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) announced that it had begun creating a 3D strategy for medical services based on benchmarks that are well known in the field of technology internationally.

Humaid Al Qattami Chairman of the Board and Director-General of the DHA said that they were in the process of developing regulations to cover 3D printing in healthcare. "There are some important steps to be taken such as regulation, training of doctors and raising public awareness," he said.

"3D technology allows doctors to better plan their surgery and perform minimally invasive procedures. Using 3D technology for surgeries and other medical purposes is the future and we are currently working on developing regulations for 3D printing for patients and the medical sector in Dubai."

Dr Mohammad Al Redha, Director, The Executive Office for Organisational Transformation said that the 3D models would be printed in Dubai 'very soon.'

He said that the technology adds another dimension to healthcare. "It means a lot to the patient."

He also said: "In this case, when the doctor informed us that he would benefit from a 3D model to plan the surgery pre-operatively, we got a 3D model manufactured from the United States. The aim of using 3D technology is to perform minimally invasive procedures and opt for radical surgery only where there is no option. 3D printing has several benefits particularly in such complicated cases."

asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com