Three-Dimensional Printing: is it useful for Cardiac Surgery?

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging and Technology
• Surgical Innovation
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3-D) imaging has been explored in medicine since 1988.
• A significant surge in 3-D printing research, with 95% of papers published in the last six years, indicates rapid technological advancement and increased accessibility in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a literature review on the applications of 3-D printing in medicine.
• To explore the potential benefits and challenges of integrating 3-D printing into the routine practices of cardiothoracic surgeons.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive and systematic literature search was conducted.
• The search included publications indexed in PubMed up to March 2020.

Main Results:

• The search yielded 9,253 publications on 3-D printing.
• Specifically, 497 publications focused on 3-D printing in the context of heart-related applications.

Conclusions:

• Three-dimensional printed models are currently aiding surgeons in pre-operative planning.
• These models enhance patient and family comprehension of complex anatomies and facilitate surgical practice for trainees, including rare cases.
• 3-D printing also assists healthcare staff in understanding conditions such as heart diseases.