Custom-made prosthesis in thoracic surgery

Additive manufacturing (AM, also known as 3D printing) is a rising technology with multiple applications in healthcare, especially in surgery. This article aims to be a basic guide to 3D printing for thoracic surgeons as well as a summary of the current state of this technology either in the thoracic or other surgical fields, analyzing the main drawbacks for this technology to be considered common use in the thoracic area on a day to day basis and suggesting specific pathways to solve them.