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Implantation of Total Artificial Heart in Congenital Heart Disease
Published on: July 18, 2014
Patient-specific three-dimensional printed heart models benefit preoperative planning for complex congenital heart
Jia-Jun Xu1,2, Yu-Jia Luo1, Jin-Hua Wang1
1Department of Heart Center, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, 310058, China.
Insights
Three-dimensional (3D) printed patient-specific heart models enhance preoperative planning for children with complex congenital heart disease. These models improve surgical option accuracy and offer valuable insights for complex cardiac procedures.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Biomedical Engineering
- Pediatric Cardiology
Background:
- Preoperative planning for pediatric congenital heart diseases is complex.
- Accurate surgical planning is critical for successful outcomes in children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the utility of 3D printed patient-specific heart models.
- To assess the role of these models in presurgical planning for complex congenital heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Fifteen children with complex congenital heart disease were included.
- Patient-specific heart models were created using 3D printing from CT scans.
- Surgical plans were developed using CT images alone and then with 3D models.
Main Results:
- All 15 3D printed heart models accurately reflected surgical needs, unlike CT-based planning alone.
- Cardiologists found the 3D models beneficial for understanding complex cardiac anatomy.
- One patient experienced a postoperative complication, unrelated to the planning method.
Conclusions:
- 3D printed heart models are promising tools for preoperative planning in pediatric complex congenital heart disease.
- These models can help confirm and potentially improve surgical strategy selection.
- The tangible nature of 3D models aids in visualizing complex cardiac structures.
Background:
Preoperative planning for children with congenital heart diseases remains crucial and challenging. This study aimed to investigate the roles of three-dimensional printed patient-specific heart models in the presurgical planning for complex congenital heart disease.
Methods:
From May 2017 to January 2018, 15 children diagnosed with complex congenital heart disease were included in this study. Heart models were printed based on computed tomography (CT) imaging reconstruction by a 3D printer with photosensitive resin using the stereolithography apparatus technology. Surgery options were first evaluated by a sophisticated cardiac surgery group using CT images only, and then surgical plans were also set up based on heart models.
Results:
Fifteen 3D printed heart models were successfully generated. According to the decisions based on CT, 13 cases were consistent with real options, while the other 2 were not. According to 3D printed heart models, all the 15 cases were consistent with real options. Unfortunately, one child diagnosed with complete transposition of great arteries combined with interruption of aortic arch (type A) died 5 days after operation due to postoperative low cardiac output syndrome. The cardiologists, especially the younger ones, considered that these 3D printed heart models with tangible, physical and comprehensive illustrations were beneficial for preoperative planning of complex congenital heart diseases.
Conclusion:
3D printed heart models are beneficial and promising in preoperative planning for complex congenital heart diseases, and are able to help conform or even improve the surgery options.
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