Chapter 6 - Three-dimensional printing in cardiopulmonary disease

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has gained increasing interests and recognition in the medical domain with studies confirming its clinical value and applications in many areas. 3D-printed personalized models provide information that cannot be obtained by traditional visualization tools, and this is especially apparent in the cardiopulmonary disease due to the complexity of anatomical structures and pathologies that are seen in the cardiopulmonary system. This chapter provides an overview of the application and usefulness of 3D-printed models in cardiopulmonary disease, including 3D printing in heart and cardiovascular disease, and 3D printing in pulmonary disease. Emerging applications of 3D printing in coronavirus disease 2019 patients, in particular, the 3D-printed ventilators, and 3D printing in cardiopulmonary bypass are also presented, while limitations and future research of 3D printing in cardiopulmonary disease are highlighted. It is expected that this chapter presents an update of current research on 3D printing in cardiopulmonary disease and possible research directions along this pathway.