Three-Dimensional-Printed Gastrointestinal Tract Models for Surgical Planning and Medical Education: A Systematic Review

Three-dimensional (3D)-printed models have been extensively applied in operative planning and medical education to directly visualize anatomical structures and gain tactile experiences. Although studies are available on the use of 3D printing technology in the gastrointestinal tract, there is a lack of detailed analyses of its current applications, particularly in the context of 3D-printed gastrointestinal tract models for surgical planning and education. Therefore, this systematic review aims to analyze the current application of 3D printing technology in gastrointestinal tract diseases, focusing on the techniques, materials, anatomical structures, and the impact of its use. A systematic search was conducted across the PubMed/Medline, Scopus, and Embase databases adhering to the PRISMA 2020 protocols. A total of 25 articles were identified as eligible for review. The findings revealed that 3D-printed gastrointestinal tract models can enhance technical skills, knowledge, and confidence in performing gastrointestinal surgery or other procedures in a risk-free environment. However, most studies (76%) were limited by their small sample size, with only 1–3 models printed, and lacked comparative analysis. The influence of this procedure on actual patients was not followed up; hence, the impact of this simulator on clinical practice outcomes remains unknown. Most of the 3D-printed models were designed for a single procedure, limiting their widespread application. Future research should focus on developing more realistic printed materials to accurately simulate real organs, including large sample sizes; comparing 3D-printed models with other simulators or other visualization modalities such as virtual reality and mixed reality; and investigating their impact on actual gastrointestinal procedures.