Supporting faster and safer cardiac valve replacement with 3D modeling

Approximately eight out of every 1,000 babies are born with congenital heart disease (CHD). Typically, babies born with these complex cardiac anomalies will undergo surgical treatment in the first weeks or months of life, but even with this, many will require further procedures well into adulthood.

The Case

In this case, surgeons treating a 32-year-old male with a complex CHD planned to replace an existing RV-PA conduit with a Medtronic Melody® Transcatheter Pulmonary Valve (TPV), with an ultimate goal of improving the patient’s quality of life while delaying his next major surgical intervention.

Solution

As the team planned to approach the patient’s heart through his venous system, the most careful planning and precision was required. Cardiac anatomy of course is made up of very intricate three-dimensional structures, and as such, 2D imaging can be pretty limited in being able to provide the precision requested. With this in mind, the team requested a 3D model, produced from the patient’s medical data, so that they could clearly define the proximity of the existing conduit in relation to his arteries.

Benefits of using the 3D Model

Having access to the 3D model delivered the precision required of the patient’s cardiac anatomy for the team, and more specifically the region surrounding the existing implant. These insights provided by the model enabled the team to define the best and safest surgical plan, removing the element of surprise from the operating room. Furthermore, the model enabled the team to plan and practice their approach in advance, resulting in an amazing 40 minutes reduction in the time in surgery (compared to what would have otherwise been required without the 3D model).

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