ABSTRACT Purpose:

To report our initial experience using a patient-specific 3D-printed renal tumor model for the surgical planning of a complex heminephrectomy in a horseshoe kidney.

Materials and Methods:

We selected a clinical case for a complex laparoscopic surgery consisting in a 53 year-old male presenting a local recurrence of a renal tumor in a horseshoe kidney with aberrant vascularisation previously treated with a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. He is now proposed for a laparoscopic left heminephrectomy. Along with conventional imaging, a real-size 3D-printed renal model was used to plan de surgical approach. The perioperative experience of the surgical team was recorded.

Results:

The surgical team found the patient-specific 3D printed model useful for a better understanding of the anatomy and an easier surgical planning.

Conclusion:

The use of patient-specific 3D-printed renal models seem to be helpful for the surgical planning in complex renal tumors.