Purpose or Case Report: Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) is widely becoming an accepted therapy for aortic stenosis. In the last 10 years, estimates place the deployment of TAVRs as high as 50,000 worldwide. Differences in size and morphology of the aortic root and surrounding anatomy are important considerations in determining which TAVR to deploy. 3D printing based off of patient images can be leveraged to create models for patient-specific surgical planning purposes.
Methods & Materials: An 82 year old female was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Traditional measurements based on CT were inconclusive on size of TAVR for deployment. The decision was made to print an aortic model in a compliant medium with calcifications in a non-compliant medium. TAVR devices were deployed in the model to assist with device determination.
Results: The multi-material, 3D print of the patient’s diseased aortic anatomy allowed physicians to perform two mock interventions on the patient-specific model with different TAVR specifications. From the results of the patient-specific, simulated TAVR deployment and information traditionally available through conventional imaging, the clinicians selected the larger available TAVR device for future deployment in the patient.
Conclusions: This case study and modelling process yield compelling results for pre-interventional planning in regards to TAVR deployment. Specifically, representing the two tissue types, lumen and sclerosis, was an achievement through new 3D printing techniques. Integration of this rapidly developing technology within cardiovascular centers is recommended for further study and validation.