Application of 3-D Printed Kidney Model in Partial Nephrectomy for Predicting Surgical Outcomes: A Feasibility Study.

Three-dimensional printing is likely to revolutionize clinical practice, and urologic surgeons could greatly benefit from early adoption of this technology. Additionally, 3-D printed kidney models have the potential to improve patients' understanding of their disease, which might ultimately result in better patient satisfaction. Overall, the use of 3-D printed models improves the efficacy of surgical procedures because they facilitate surgical planning, simplify the orientation of the target tissue, explain risk structure, and predict renal function postoperatively, thereby possibly improving surgical outcomes.