[3D-Printed Templates for Physician Modified Endografts - Current Concepts and New Workflows]

Area of Science:

• Medical Device Technology
• Surgical Innovation
• Additive Manufacturing

Context:

• Complex abdominal aortic aneurysms often require fenestrated or branched endoprostheses.
• Physician-modified endografts (PMEG) are used in urgent cases due to long custom prosthesis delivery times.
• Current PMEG techniques rely heavily on surgeon experience for accurate fenestration placement.

Purpose:

• To present a novel, simplified workflow for creating patient-specific templates for endoprosthesis modification.
• To reduce the time required for PMEG fenestration planning and execution.
• To develop a method for fenestration placement independent of surgeon experience.

Summary:

• Patient-specific, 3D-printed transparent templates were developed using CT data for endoprosthesis modification.
• The template design, additive manufacturing, and modification process were standardized to be completed within 12 hours.
• The transparent templates facilitate accurate fenestration positioning regardless of operator experience, excluding cases with low-resolution CT data or extreme aortic anatomy.

Impact:

• This approach significantly reduces the time and technical expertise required for PMEG fenestration.
• The standardized workflow and patient-specific templates represent a step towards more accessible and personalized endovascular repair.
• The technology has the potential to improve outcomes for patients needing urgent repair of complex abdominal aortic aneurysms.