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Three-dimensional printed models in congenital heart disease

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The International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to discuss technical considerations and current applications of three-dimensional (3D) printing in congenital heart disease (CHD). CHD represent an attractive field for the application of 3D printed models, with consistent progress made in the past decade. Current 3D models are able to reproduce complex cardiac and extra-cardiac anatomy including small details with very limited range of errors (<1 mm), so this tool could be of value in the planning of surgical or percutaneous treatments for selected cases of CHD. However, the steps involved in the building of 3D models, consisting of image acquisition and selection, segmentation, and printing are highly operator dependent. Current 3D models may be rigid or flexible, but unable to reproduce the physiologic variations during the cardiac cycle. Furthermore, high costs and long average segmentation and printing times (18–24 h) limit a more extensive use. There is a need for better standardization of the procedure employed for collection of the images, the segmentation methods and processes, the phase of cardiac cycle used, and in the materials employed for printing. More studies are necessary to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of 3D printed models in congenital cardiac care.

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Abbreviations

CHD:

Congenital heart disease

3D:

Three dimensional

CT:

Computed tomography

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

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Acknowledgments

The authors appreciate the assistance of R. Gabe Linke, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.

Funding

None declared.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Fondazione Toscana G. Monasterio, Massa, Pisa, Italy

    Massimiliano Cantinotti

  2. Institute of Clinical Physiology-CNR, Pisa, Italy

    Massimiliano Cantinotti

  3. Paediatric Cardiology, Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and Technological Innovation Group, Hospital Virgen del Rocio, Seville, Spain

    Israel Valverde

  4. Cardiovascular Pathology Unit, Institute of Biomedicine of Seville, IBIS, Hospital Virgen de Rocio/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain

    Israel Valverde

  5. Division of Imaging Sciences and Biomedical Engineering, King’s College London, The Rayne Institute, St. Thomas’ Hospital, London, UK

    Israel Valverde

  6. Paediatric Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical Physics, Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, UK

    Israel Valverde

  7. Division of Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Creighton University, Children’s Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE, 68198, USA

    Shelby Kutty

Authors
  1. Massimiliano Cantinotti
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  2. Israel Valverde
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  3. Shelby Kutty
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shelby Kutty.

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Cantinotti, M., Valverde, I. & Kutty, S. Three-dimensional printed models in congenital heart disease. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 33, 137–144 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-016-0981-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10554-016-0981-2

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