TO COMPARE THE EFFICACY OF 3D PRINTED SILS PORT VERSUS CONVENTIONAL SILS PORT IN TAMIS (TRANSANAL MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY) – A RANDOMISED CONTROL TRIAL

Abstract

Background: 3D printing is an additive manufacturing process that uses incrementally timed
layers of materials to build 3D objects. Colorectal cancer is the second most frequent cancer,
affecting over one million people each year. Over the past decade, TAMIS (transanal minimally invasive surgery) has gained interest for resection of early rectal carcinoma. However the conventional SILS (single-incision laparoscopic surgery) port used in TAMIS had a few drawbacks. To date there are no studies evaluating the 3D printing of SILS port. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical safety and operability of 3D printed SILS port and compare the efficacy of same over conventional SILS port in TAMIS.
Methods: This is a randomised control study conducted in Victoria Hospital Bengaluru from
October 2022 to March 2023 included 36 patients who underwent TAMIS using conventional
SILS port and 3D printed SILS port. Data on technical aspects of 3D printed SILS port over
conventional port were assessed using various parameters.
Results: In our study the port placement using 3D printed port was very easy in 38.9% of the
patients as compared to conventional port where it was 11.1%. Similarly, easy
instrumentation and good insufflation was found in 55.6% with 3D printed port as compared
to conventional port (5.6%) ,whereas durability of conventional port was good in 50% of
cases compared to 3D printed port which was only 11.1%.
Conclusion: We infer from our study that the 3D printing of SILS port is technically a
feasible procedure and demonstrates potential advantages over the conventional port in terms of port placement, instrumentation and insufflation with a better surgical outcome.