Three-Dimensional Printing for Planning of Structural Heart Interventions.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular medicine
• Medical imaging
• Biomedical engineering

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing is a transformative technology in medicine.
• 3D printed models offer tangible representations of complex patient anatomy.
• These models have diverse applications in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To discuss the advantages of 3D printing in medicine.
• To review methods for acquiring 3D datasets for printing.
• To highlight 3D printing's role in structural heart interventions.

Main Methods:

• Generating patient-specific 3D anatomical models.
• Utilizing datasets from 3D transesophageal echocardiography, cardiac MRI, and cardiac CT.
• Analyzing the application of 3D printing in clinical workflows.

Main Results:

• 3D printing enables creation of physical models for teaching, patient education, device evaluation, and procedural planning.
• Specific anatomical models can be derived from various advanced imaging modalities.
• The technology shows promise for improving patient screening and planning in structural heart procedures.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing offers significant potential benefits in cardiovascular medicine.
• Acquisition of high-quality 3D datasets is crucial for effective model generation.
• The integration of 3D printing enhances structural heart intervention planning and patient care.