Three-Dimensional Printing in Cardiothoracic Surgery: Workflow and Clinical Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology has advanced rapidly.
• High-fidelity 3D printing hardware for anatomical models is now accessible and cost-effective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a toolchain for creating 3D-printed models of intrathoracic structures.
• To demonstrate the utility of these models for patient education, surgical planning, and medical training.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a free and open-source toolchain for model creation.
• Focused on producing anatomically accurate 3D models of great vessels and bony structures.
• Emphasized the use of cost-effective consumables and consumer-level 3D printers.

Main Results:

• Developed a reproducible approach for generating high-quality 3D anatomical models.
• Highlighted the practical applications of 3D-printed models in clinical and educational contexts.
• Demonstrated improved accessibility and affordability of 3D printing for medical applications.

Conclusions:

• The developed toolchain enables the creation of valuable 3D-printed models for diverse medical applications.
• This technique can be readily adopted by other institutions for clinical and teaching purposes.
• Advances in 3D printing technology facilitate its integration into healthcare and medical education.