Apr. 1, 2015 | By Simon
Although we’ve heard of 3D printed models being used as a planning aid prior to surgery for surgeons before, their continued use never ceases to amaze us and remind us of the times we live in. Previously, the method of taking a 3D scan of a patient’s problematic area and creating a 3D print of it has allowed medical professionals to practice a surgery before performing it live and with great success. Most recently, a 17-year old teen became the first patient in the US state of Michigan to benefit from the use of 3D printing prior to her medical procedure.
Back in November, Ariana Smith’s mother decided to have her and her three siblings undergo an electrocardiogram (EKG), a test that monitors the electrical activity of the heart after one of Ariana’s siblings had suffered a heart murmur.
After Ariana was tested, it was revealed that the active teen - who regularly participates in cheerleading and volleyball - may have had potential abnormalities in her aorta. To be safe, the doctors advised her to have a more thorough test through a cardiac catheterization - a process that places a tube in her blood vessel - in order to better-diagnose what could potentially be a fatal heart condition.
After the more in-depth testing, it was revealed that the 17-year old - despite leading an active lifestyle - was suffering a very dangerous condition in the form of a large aortic aneurysm complicated with a tortuous aorta that had a distorted shape and path.
“We were devastated to hear this news,” said Smith’s mother Jacqueline. “ Ariana had no symptoms. I understand an aneurysm is considered a silent killer. We hoped and prayed that everything would turn out ok.”
Because of her age, undergoing surgical therapy for the condition was a risky procedure that could leave Ariana with more complicated problems with her aorta later in her life, but thanks to the quick thinking from a team of cardiologists and staff from across the country including Daisuke Kobayashi, M.D., Richard Humes, M.D., Thomas Forbes, M.D. and Daniel Turner, M.D., a 3D printed model of Ariana’s heart was generated using computed tomography (CT) so that the team could better-understand her condition before operating at the Children's Hospital of Michigan.
To create the model, the team contacted 3D printing supplier Materialise - who are also based in Michigan. The team, in collaboration with Materialise, used the company’s Mimics Innovation Suite Software and HeartPrint service to convert Ariana’s CT scan into a life-like 3D printed replica of her aorta. This effectively enabled the team of cardiologists to plan and practice their procedure repeatedly until they were confident that it was time to complete it on Ariana’s actual heart.
“Using the 3D printed model of Ariana's aorta, we performed a ‘practice-run’ or simulation in the cath lab, where we actually placed a stent into the model,” said Dr. Turner, one of the cardiologists on Ariana’s team. “This allowed us to precisely plan the procedure and see how the stent responded in her unique and tortuous anatomy. Then, when we performed Ariana's actual procedure, we had a good idea of how it was going to go.”
While the surgical procedure normally leaves patients in a state of discomfort for days after the surgery, the pre-planned surgery enabled the team of cardiologists to operate as efficiently as possible and Ariana was able to leave the hospital after only one night. Within a single week of the procedure, the 17-year old was back in school and shopping for a dress for her school’s prom.
“We anticipate that Ariana will not require surgery to treat this condition. Most importantly, this experience will allow us to treat future patients more safely with the use of 3D printing technology. This is only the beginning,” added Dr. Turner.
Posted in 3D Printing Applications
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