Patient-specific models have improved patient safety with reduced time under anaesthesia, reduction in operation time, shorter recovery times, and a reduction in blood loss intraoperatively. 3D printing has also proven to be a useful adjunct in pre-surgical planning. 3D printing also improves patient and carer satisfaction and engagement when compared to other media used in the therapeutic relationship. Firstly, 3D printing allows for improved patient and carer understanding of their anatomy and the planned surgical procedure. Results: We present the four main ways 3D printing is improving quality and safety in Surgery. The findings from these studies were then compared against our own centre’s experiences as an early adopter of the technology. 392 articles resulted, which were read in full to identify relevant studies. The search terms used were “Printing, Three-Dimensional” AND “Surgery”.

Methods: We performed a literature search using Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid EMBASE and PubMed. We seek to demonstrate the contributions to patient-centred care, quality and safety 3D printing brings to current best practice, and break down the perceived barriers to health services adopting this technology. Correspondence: Jasamine Coles-Black There has been an explosion of interest in 3D printing in Surgery.

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