Improving Cardiovascular Medicine Through 3D Printing

3D printing in Cardiovascular Medicine has brought about a revolution in personalised care. It can play a very important role in heart treatments tailored for a particular patient as well as in research. 

In addition, 3D printing helps in the education of both patients and doctors.

Why Is a 3D Model Of The Heart Important?

Trainee doctors spend a lot of time in the Anatomy Museum trying to understand the anatomy of different organs including the heart.

Heart specimens facilitate a better understanding of the heart’s structure and its diseases. However, when doctors have to treat complex problems of the heart, they mentally reconstruct the structure of heart as a physical format isn’t always available.

However, with the arrival of 3D printing, this need not be the case anymore. A 3D-printed model of the heart with a specific heart defect can be constructed immediately. 

3D printing can help doctors overcome the limitation of traditional imaging methods.

What Is 3D Medical Printing?

Medical 3D printing refers to the construction of anatomical structures with the help of imaging. 3D printing makes it easier to visually examine and manipulate models of human pathology and anatomy. 

Imaging techniques like CT, Echo and MRI are used to build 3D-printed models.

What Are The Benefits Of 3D Printing?

Guided treatment strategies

Detailed visualisation

Accurate replication of surgical and endovascular procedures

Better diagnosis

Advanced cardiovascular research

Improved doctor-patient communication

Where Can 3D Printing Be Done?

If an institution wants to incorporate 3D printing into clinical practice, the options include:

 Outsourcing through the budding medical 3D printing industry or via collaboration and networking.

 3D printing in an in-house 3D printing lab.

Advantages Of 3D Printing In Clinical Practice

A decrease in procedure-related complications. This includes reduced blood loss, lower anaesthesia time and reduced organ ischaemia time.

Reduction in postoperative complications.

Improved precision in the case of minimally invasive and open surgeries.

A more appropriate custom-made treatment can be selected

Better training opportunities for Interventional Cardiologists and Cardiac Surgeons, who can use 3D-printed models instead of costly cadaveric materials.