Perceptions of Porta Celiac Vascular Model

2.1. Research Design The study group consisted of Ege University, Faculty of Medicine general surgery residents (n:22). A five-station carousel composed of vascular patterns such as classical porta-celiac, portal vein type 2, portal vein type 3, separate branches origin of celiac trunk and portal vein pattern located between the right and the left hepatic artery. Each station contained the CT, and life size models of the cases. As data collection tool, a descriptive rating scale was used to evaluate the perceptions of each of the methods (CT and 3D solid model) in terms of their usefulness in knowing the variations, perceiving the problem, their effectiveness in differential diagnosis and preoperative planning.

Arterial variations were classified according to previous authors. In the classical anatomy, the common hepatic artery arises from the celiac trunk to form the gastroduodenal and proper hepatic arteries, and the latter dividing distally into right and left branches. Separate branches origin of the celiac trunk such as the artery from the abdominal aorta were modeled individually in cases of variant neighborhood. Portal variations were classified as the portal vein types. Type 1 is the classical appearance, in which the right portal vein and left portal are present as independent trunks. In type 2, the right anterior portal vein, right posterior portal vein, and left portal vein trifurcate from the main portal vein. In type 3, the right posterior portal vein comes directly from the middle portal vein, and the left portal vein and right anterior portal vein emerge from a common trunk.

The study was approved by the suitably constituted Ethical Committee at Researches Department of Ege University (18-5/45), within which the work was undertaken, and the study conforms to the Declaration of Helsinki. Clinicaltrails number is EGE18-6.134.

2.2. Selection of the samples The patients in this study were chosen among the ones who consulted to Ege University Faculty of Medicine, Department of General Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation Division for diagnose between September 2016 and January 2018. CT archives were screened and 100 eligible people (age: 18-62) with porta-celiac vascular patterns were selected. Patients whose radiological imaging results were suitable for modeling and the ones with no previous operation or pathology that may cause anatomical differences were included in the study.

2.3. Stations Five case carousel that could serve as an example for variational hepatic vascularity was defined with the consensus of experts in medical education, anatomy, radiology and liver transplantation team. The carousel included the following 5 cases.

Case 1. Portal vein with Type 3 classification pattern. Case 2. Normal classification porta-celiac vascular pattern. Case 3. Vascular pattern with the separate branch origin of celiac trunk. Case 4. Portal vein between the right and the left hepatic artery. Case 5. Portal vein with Type 2 classification pattern. 2.4. Image post-processing and segmentation DICOM data from CT and MRI sections of the patients were obtained using free 3D Slicer (version 4.10.1) software. Segmentations of the portal vein, hepatic vein, splenic vein were automatically generated from the venous phase, while the celiac trunk and hepatic artery were manually traced from the arterial phase.

2.5. Creating life-size patient-specific porta-celiac vascular model Model CT's were measured in order to verify 1:1 modelling and the printing the process was carried out with 3D printers of Mass Portal Pharaoh xd 20. Model production took a total of 24 hours; 4 for segmentation, 3 for editing, 15 for printing, and 1 hour for post-print processing. Arterial vessels were color-coded red, and the portal vein blue by the visualization team.

2.6. Quantitative assessment of model accuracy Measurements of the anatomical structures were performed and compared between the original CT images, and the CT images of the 3D model. The morphometric values such as inter-arterial distances (distances between arterial origins), inter-venous distances and the distance between the artery and the vein were noted. Measurements were compared for original CT images, the 3D rendered files, and the 3D vascular models. The repetition rate of the measurements which were done by two autonomous spectators, was 3 times at every scene and the mean values were taken as ultimate output and also calculated for further statistical analysis. The spectators performed with exceptional correlation (r=0.99, P<0.001).

2.7. Workshop During the workshop, 30-minute lectures were given by the expert team on variable vascular pattern, arterial structures relationship with venous structures and models in diagnosis. For each station, a period of 5-10 minutes was given.

2.8. Survey A multi-item survey was prepared to assess fellow's perception of residency training. The survey was utilized by our group, understanding of patient vascular anatomy, awareness of the changes based on variations, independent decision-making, differential diagnosis, plan on key surgical steps, and preparation for unexpected bleeding. The answers to the questions asked for each case were analyzed to include senior (3 years and over) - junior (1-2 years) residents.

2.9. Statistical analysis Data are entered into SPSS 24.0 for statistical analysis. Continuous variables were presented as mean ± standard deviation. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test was used to determine any significant differences in the measurements between the original CT images, 3D rendered images, the 3D model and CT images of the 3D model. Statistical significance was defined as a p value of less than 0.05.