3D Printing Technology Improves Medical Interns' Understanding of Anatomy of Gastrocolic Trunk

Complex vascular anatomy has always been a difficult point for medical students. Gastrocolic trunk (Henle trunk) has many branches and variations, involving the venous reflux of the stomach, right colon, and pancreas. This study investigated the effects of 3 dimensional (3D) printing technology on medical interns' understanding of Henle trunk's variation, by comparing 2 dimensional (2D) images. Henle trunk modes were manufactured using 3D-CT angiography and 3D-printing technology. Forty-seven interns from 2 medical schools (Nanjing Medical University and Medical College of Nantong University) participated in the study. The interns were divided randomly allocated into 2 groups, where group 1 was the control group with a 2D image of Henle trunk plus surgical video (named 2D image group), and group 2 was the study group with a 3D printed model of Henle trunk plus surgical video (named 3D-printing group). Knowledge of interns on the Henle trunk was compared between 2 groups using a question test before and after the teaching intervention. All interns had an improved overall assessment score as a result of attending the seminar, whether in the 2D image group or the 3D-printing group. The score of the 2D image group increased 32.57 ± 13.86, and the 3D-printing group increased 47.04 ± 12.99, showing significant difference (p = 0.001). There was no significant difference observed between postseminar scores between 2 medical schools (p = 0.975). There was a significant improvement in satisfaction among the 3D-printing group for education depth, novel and inspiring of teaching method, except for the interaction between teacher and interns (p = 0.215). Interns hope to have more teaching time for 3D printing, and not satisfied with the time of 3D printing teaching compared with those in the 2D image group (p = 0.021). The 3-D printed Henle trunk model is a very effective teaching tool, which can help interns understand the anatomy of Henle trunk. The application of 3D printing technology in the teaching of interns of complex vascular anatomy is worth popularizing in teaching hospitals.