3-DIEPrinting: 3D-printed Models to Assist the Intramuscular Dissection in Abdominally Based Microsurgical Breast Reconstruction

• Main Authors: Eric M. Jablonka, MD, Robin T. Wu, BS, Paul A. Mittermiller, MD, Kyle Gifford, BS, Arash Momeni, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer 2019-04-01
• Series: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Global Open
• Online Access: http://journals.lww.com/prsgo/fulltext/10.1097/GOX.0000000000002222
• ISSN: 2169-7574

Summary:. Harvest of the deep inferior epigastric vessels for microsurgical breast reconstruction can be complicated by an intricate and lengthy subfascial dissection. Although multiple preoperative imaging modalities exist to help visualize the vascular anatomy and assist in perforator selection, few can help clearly define the intramuscular course of these vessels. The authors introduce their early experience with 3D-printed anatomical modeling (to-scale) of the infraumbilical course of the deep inferior epigastric subfascial vascular tree to better assist in executing the intramuscular dissection.