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3D Printed Hydrocoele
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3D Printed Hydrocoele
Clinical History
A 40-year old male presents with shortness of breath and swelling of his lower
limbs. He is a smoker with a history of diabetes and previous myocardial infarctions. On examination bilateral
pleural effusion, peripheral pitting oedema and a swollen scrotum were noted. Transillumination of the swelling
transmitted red light. Chest x-ray showed radiological features of congestive cardiac failure. He was commenced on
appropriate treatment for heart failure but later died during this admission.
Pathology
The specimen is a testis and its coverings, sliced to display the cut surface. The
cavity bounded by the visceral and parietal layers of the tunica vaginalis is distended due to the accumulation of
serous fluid. This is an example of a hydrocoele, secondary to generalised oedema due to congestive cardiac failure.
Further Information
A hydrocele is an accumulation of serous fluid between the parietal and
visceral layers of the tunica vaginalis around the testes. Hydroceles can be described as communicating with the
peritoneal cavity or non-communicating with the peritoneal cavity.
Communicating hydroceles develop as a result
of failure of the processus vaginalis to close after the descent of the testes into the scrotum. These may present
after birth as a congenital hydrocele or may present later in life due to increase in intra-abdominal pressure, such
a cardiac failure in this case. Non-communicating hydroceles are caused by imbalances in fluid secretion and
reabsorption e.g. orchitis, epididymitis, testicular tumour, physical trauma (e.g. hernia, testicular torsion) or
defective lymphatic drainage (e.g. filariasis, elephantiasis).
Patients present with a scrotal mass. The mass may be uni- or bilateral. Communicating hydroceles may be reducible
and increase in size with raised intra-abdominal pressure. Non-communicating are usually non-reducible swellings.
The swelling is usually non tender unless there is an underlying infection or torsion causing the hydrocele. Larger
hydroceles may be cumbersome and cause erosion and skin infections on the scrotum. Diagnosis can be made on physical
examination. Serous fluid allows the passage of light shined through the scrotum when examined: this is called
transillumination. Ultrasound may be used to consolidate diagnosis and exclude other testicular pathology.
Testicular cancer serum markers, such as alpha fetoprotein and B-HCG, may be taken to exclude testicular
cancer.
Many congenital hydroceles resolve spontaneously before the age of 2. If communicating hydroceles persist
beyond 2 year they are surgically repaired in order to reduce the risk of developing incarcerated hernias. Surgical
repair of communicating hydroceles in older patients may be offered if they are symptomatic. Treatment of the
underlying aetiology of reactive hydrocele may cause them to resolve.
GTSimulators by Global Technologies
Erler Zimmer Authorized Dealer
The models are very detailed and delicate. With normal production machines you cannot realize such details like shown in these models.
The printer used is a color-plastic printer. This is the most suitable printer for these models.
The plastic material is already the best and most suitable material for these prints. (The other option would be a kind of gypsum, but this is way more fragile. You even cannot get them out of the printer without breaking them).The huge advantage of the prints is that they are very realistic as the data is coming from real human specimen. Nothing is shaped or stylized.
The users have to handle these prints with utmost care. They are not made for touching or bending any thin nerves, arteries, vessels etc. The 3D printed models should sit on a table and just rotated at the table.