3D printing of cardiac structures in congenital heart disease

Abstract

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common congenital disorder diagnosed in newborns. It afflicts approximately 0.8% to 1.2% of live births worldwide but the mortality rate and incidence vary around the world. CHD is categorized as one or more abnormalities of the heart or great vessels from birth. Although the potential aetiologies of CHD have been extensively investigated, only about 15% of cases have been attributable to a known cause. For families and patients, understanding CHDs could be critical for them to be able to comprehend the benefits of treatment and potential risks. The spatial complexity of the heart renders the creation of 3D models an important teaching aid. The educational promises of cardiac 3D models are endless due to the accurate anatomical structure, material colour, reproducibility, flexibility, as well as scalability. As newer technology becomes more readily available, this creates more opportunity to recreate the anatomy from CT, MRI, and echocardiography data to produce 3D models with precise detail. This study aims to investigate whether 3D printed models will increase the level of confidence and to help improve the understanding of the details in CHD patients to medical professionals. This thesis will investigate the production of these patient specific 3D models using CT and MRI scans to ensure better understanding with patients. The author predicts that these models will notably increase the understanding of the patients and their families and will facilitate their understanding at a more rapid pace rather than observing a 2D representation.