Medical three-dimensional printing opens up new opportunities in cardiology and cardiac surgery.
Advanced percutaneous and surgical procedures in structural and congenital heart disease require precise pre-procedural planning and continuous quality control. Although current imaging modalities and post-processing software assists with peri-procedural guidance, their capabilities for spatial conceptualization remain limited in two- and three-dimensional representations. In contrast, 3D printing offers not only improved visualization for procedural planning, but provides substantial information on the accuracy of surgical reconstruction and device implantations. Peri-procedural 3D printing has the potential to set standards of quality assurance and individualized healthcare in cardiovascular medicine and surgery. Nowadays, a variety of clinical applications are available showing how accurate 3D computer reformatting and physical 3D printouts of native anatomy, embedded pathology, and implants are and how they may assist in the development of innovative therapies. Accurate imaging of pathology including target region for intervention, its anatomic features and spatial relation to the surrounding structures is critical for selecting optimal approach and evaluation of procedural results. This review describes clinical applications of 3D printing, outlines current limitations, and highlights future implications for quality control, advanced medical education and training.
Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, PO Box 112412, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Thomas
T
Bartel
Imaging Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Andrew
A
Rivard
Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, PO Box 112412, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Alejandro
A
Jimenez
Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, PO Box 112412, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Carlos A
CA
Mestres
Department of Internal Medicine III, Cardiology Division, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria.
Silvana
S
Müller
D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002309:Cardiology / Q000592:standards*; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D059035:Perioperative Period / Q000592:standards; D066330:Printing, Three-Dimensional / Q000295:instrumentation*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000592:standards; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012984:Software