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Three-Dimensional Printing of a Complex Aortic Anomaly
Published on: November 1, 2018
Three-Dimensional Printing: is it useful for Cardiac Surgery?
Marcos Aurélio Barboza de Oliveira1,2, Carlos Alberto Dos Santos3, Antônio Carlos Brandi3
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, Hospital Santo Antônio and Femina Cuiabá, Sinop, Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Introduction:
The medical use of three-dimensional (3-D) images has been a topic in the literature since 1988, but 95% of papers on 3-D printing were published in the last six years. The increase in publications is the result of advances in 3-D printing methods, as well as of the increasing availability of these machines in different hospitals. This paper sought to review the literature on 3-D printing and to discuss thoughtful ideas regarding benefits and challenges to its incorporation into cardiothoracic surgeons' routines.
Methods:
A comprehensive and systematic search of the literature was performed in PubMed and included material published as of March 2020.
Results:
Using this search strategy, 9,253 publications on 3-D printing and 497 on "heart" 3-D printing were retrieved.
Conclusion:
3-D printed models are already helping surgeons to plan their surgeries, helping patients and their families to understand complex anatomy, helping fellows and residents to practice surgery, even for rare cases, and helping nurses and other health care staff to better understand some conditions, such as heart diseases.
