Use of advanced 3D modelling and printing for congenital heart disease at a large surgical center

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Rachel Cooper Innovative Technologies Fund Background 3D cardiac models, digital and physical, are being used for pre-procedural planning for management of congenital heart disease. Purpose We describe the application of 3D cardiac modelling with details regarding which indications were typically useful to 3D print at our high volume congenital cardiac surgical center. Methods We reviewed patients with congenital heart disease for whom 3D models were created at our institution from January 2018 to December 2022. The diagnosis and indications for the 3D model were collected. Indications for model were separated into 1) complex intracardiac anatomy 2) ventricular assist device/transplant planning 3) anomalous coronary artery origins and 4) other. The mode of 3D modelling was identified as digital model or 3D print. Results A total of 61 models were created over the 5 year period. Indications for advanced modelling were: 30 with complex intracardiac anatomy, 17 ventricular assist device/transplant planning, 9 with anomalous coronary artery and 6 with other indications. Patients included in the "other" category were those with extracardiac congenital anomalies. A total of 25 3D printed cardiac models were created. These included 12/30 of the complex intracardiac anatomy patients, 12/17 of the ventricular assist device/transplant planning patients and 1/6 of the patients with complex extracardiac anatomy (Figure 1). An example of a 3D printed cardiac model used for presurgical planning for a patient with anomalous right pulmonary venous drainage to the inferior vena cava is demonstrated in Figure 2. Right atrium (RA), left atrium (LA), inferior vena cava (IVC), right pulmonary artery (RPA), aorta (Ao). Conclusion 3D printed cardiac models were more commonly utilized at our center than digital models for ventricular assist device and transplant planning than for any other indication including complex intracardiac anatomy.