Using 3D Heart Printing for Planning to Repair a Complex Congenital Heart Disease via Minimal Invasive Thoracotomy

Area of Science:

• Congenital Heart Surgery
• Cardiovascular Imaging
• 3D Printing in Medicine

Background:

• Cor triatriatum sinister is a rare congenital heart anomaly.
• It can present as left atrial obstructive lesions with varying symptoms.
• Diagnosis often involves echocardiography and CT scans.

Observation:

• A 14-year-old female presented with severe exercise intolerance.
• Echocardiography and CT revealed a fibromuscular membrane causing left atrial obstruction.
• Anomalous venous drainage with a persistent left superior vena cava to the coronary sinus was also noted.

Findings:

• Surgical intervention is the definitive treatment for cor triatriatum sinister.
• A 3D printed heart model was utilized for virtual surgical planning.
• This facilitated a safe and precise minimally invasive thoracotomy repair.

Implications:

• Minimally invasive approaches are feasible for complex congenital heart defects.
• 3D printing enhances surgical planning and precision.
• Multimodal imaging is crucial for improving surgical outcomes in rare cardiac conditions.