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Updated: Jan 6, 2026
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Published on: April 5, 2024
Personalized Patient-Specific Patch Augmentation Using Virtual Surgical Planning
Sassan Hashemi1, Ryan A Moore2, Kelvin Mantey1
1Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The Heart Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
Background:
The management of coarctation associated with long-segment aortic arch hypoplasia (AAH) remains challenging, especially in preterm babies.
Case Summary:
A preterm female infant born at 34 weeks of gestation with a birth weight of 1.41 kg presented with prenatally diagnosed coarctation and long-segment transverse AAH, which were confirmed on echocardiography and computed tomography angiography. We performed virtual surgical planning (VSP) to simulate the proposed aortic arch advancement and patch augmentation and designed an appropriate patch. The patch was flattened and used in the operating room as a guide. The arch was repaired with a slightly modified version of the patch. Postoperative imaging showed no residual obstruction.
Discussion:
There is variable consensus on how to manage coarctation with associated AAH. VSP enables precise preoperative visualization and a tailored personalized surgical approach.
Take-Home Messages:
Patient-specific VSP is gaining momentum in congenital heart surgery. It can refine the surgical approach and may lower complications in long-segment AAH repair.
