Training pediatric cardiac surgeons is incredibly challenging due to the complexity of the diseases and the delicate nature of children's bodies. Consequently, in the past, the only training methods involved studying hearts from autopsies and pig hearts.
However, these methods have several limitations, such as the difficulty in sourcing pig hearts, their preservation, and preparation for training. Additionally, because pig hearts are larger than children's hearts and are "healthy" organs, it's very difficult to simulate disease conditions within them.
In recent years, 3D printers have opened up new possibilities in the medical field, from producing anatomical models for planning complex surgeries, creating custom surgical guides, to manufacturing prosthetics and orthotics for rehabilitation. Today, biocompatible materials are also enabling new applications and expanding treatment possibilities, thereby improving patient care.
3D-printed Thoracic Simulators
Since the first heart transplant in Italy in 1985, the University Hospital of Padua has become one of the leading centers for cardiac surgery.
Dr. Vladimiro Vida, Professor in the Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Sciences and Public Health at the University Hospital of Padua, has used Formlabs 3D printers to design and create a modular, portable thoracic simulator with an integrated heart model. This aims to make training in pediatric cardiac surgery easier and more efficient.
Modular, portable, 3D-printed transparent thoracic simulator
However, the research team realized that when using 3D-printed hearts or heart parts, the biggest missing element in training was accurately simulating the heart's position within the chest.
In reality, placing a printed organ on a table and allowing trainees to freely manipulate it differs significantly from the situation encountered in actual surgical practice. Therefore, the research team decided to design and 3D print a modular, portable thoracic simulator. This simulator allows for interchangeable parts to suit training needs, and new parts can be easily printed.
“3D printing can completely change how future cardiac surgeons are trained. We are convinced that this technology will bridge us to the future. Our dream is to create a training network in Italy, connecting multiple training centers simultaneously, and giving resident doctors the opportunity to experience surgical procedure simulations with their own models and simulators.”
— Professor Vladimiro Vida
Director of the Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and Combined Operating Room for Congenital Heart Disease, University Hospital of Padua
This simulator was first presented at the annual meeting of the Italian Society of Cardiac Surgery, held in Rome from December 16–18, 2021, and received excellent feedback.
Currently, the simulator is used in practical training courses held monthly for doctors training at the University of Padua. The result is a significant cost reduction compared to courses using animal hearts, and a substantial reduction in preparation and transportation complexities.
Recently, the team has also shared the simulator and their specialized knowledge with other centers in Italy.
In the training course at the International School of Cardiac Surgery in Erice, 50 hearts, each featuring different congenital heart defects, were printed using Formlabs Elastic 50A Resin.
Each trainee could perform surgery on their own personal model, which is virtually impossible in traditional laboratories using animal hearts.
Printing and post-processing all 50 hearts took approximately 140 hours. However, the most complex step was creating the 3D models, which took about 50 hours.
Cardiac surgery resident using a modular, portable, 3D-printed thoracic simulator
“Formlabs was founded with the goal of making 3D printing as widely accessible as possible, but in recent years, we continue to be amazed by the ongoing medical applications happening worldwide.
We firmly believe that this technology will contribute significantly to advancements in research and treatment. Being chosen by an institution as important and technologically advanced as the University Hospital of Padua is a source of pride for us and confirms the importance of continuing on this path, as well as continuously expanding the scope of our solutions and materials.”
— Marco Zappia, Formlabs Italy Channel Sales Manager
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