Role of cardiac imaging and three-dimensional printing in percutaneous appendage closure

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation is a common arrhythmia, increasing ischemic stroke risk, especially in older adults.
• Left atrial appendage occlusion devices offer an alternative to oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention.
• Procedural success in left atrial appendage occlusion can be challenging, necessitating improved planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of multimodality imaging and 3D printing in preprocedural planning for left atrial appendage occlusion.
• To assess the potential of these technologies in optimizing procedural accuracy and safety.
• To evaluate the impact on physician training and technique refinement.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing multimodality imaging, including transesophageal echocardiography and multislice computed tomography, for 3D anatomical assessment.
• Employing dedicated postprocessing software to generate stereolithography files from imaging data.
• 3D printing of patient-specific left atrial appendage models using rubber-like materials to simulate tissue properties.

Main Results:

• Multimodality imaging provides enhanced understanding of cardiac anatomy crucial for procedural planning.
• 3D printed models replicate anatomical and mechanical characteristics of the left atrial appendage.
• This approach facilitates preprocedural simulation and offers a novel training tool.

Conclusions:

• Multimodality imaging combined with 3D printing technology significantly aids in preprocedural planning for left atrial appendage occlusion.
• Implantation simulation using 3D printed models can improve procedural accuracy, safety, and physician training.
• This innovative approach holds promise for optimizing outcomes in patients undergoing left atrial appendage occlusion.