APPLICATION OF THREE-DIMENSIONAL VISUALIZATION AND PRINTING METHODS IN THE PREOPERATIVE PLANNING OF COMPLEX CONGENITAL HEART DEFECT REPAIR

Background: Congenital heart defects are diverse and often complex in form. Their repair requires surgical experience and skill as well as preoperative planning using medical imaging data. In order to provide operating physicians with all available data, virtual anatomical studies are performed using preoperative CT and MRI datasets. Methods: Using the programs Mimics and 3Matic (Materialise, Belgium), anatomical models are extracted and analysed. Measurements are performed along with physicians and models are visualized using 3D projection on a holobench. For a better understanding of dimensions, models are 3D printed in solid form or flexible silicone models are cast. Results: Operating physicians quickly adapted to the proposed tools for pre-operative planning. While measurement of the value that 3D imaging and printing add to procedural planning and success are difficult, clinical outcome and feedback from physicians indicate a benefit and desire to continue developing and using these methods. Conclusions: Complex congenital heart defects present a challenge for any operating physicians and any available method promising a potential improvement to outcome should be applied and optimized. 3D visualisation and printing should be available to physicians in the planning of complex cardiothoracic surgical procedures.