Patients with tetralogy of Fallot, pulmonary atresia, and multiple aortopulmonary collateral arteries (Tet PA MAPCAs) have a wide spectrum of anatomy and disease severity. Management of these patients can be challenging and often require multiple high-risk surgical and interventional catheterization procedures. These interventions are made challenging by complex anatomy that require the proceduralist to mentally reconstruct three-dimensional anatomic relationships from two-dimensional images. Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an emerging medical technology that provides added benefits in the management of patients with Tet PA MAPCAs. When used in combination with current diagnostic modalities and procedures, 3D printing provides a precise approach to the management of these challenging, high-risk patients. Specifically, 3D printing enables detailed surgical and interventional planning prior to the procedure, which may improve procedural outcomes, decrease complications, and reduce procedure-related radiation dose and contrast load.

Survival in congenital heart disease has steadily improved since 1938, when Dr. Robert Gross successfully ligated for the first time a patent ductus arteriosus in a 7-year-old child. To continue the gains made over the past 80 years, transformative changes with broad impact are needed in management of congenital heart disease. Three-dimensional printing is an emerging technology that is fundamentally affecting patient care, research, trainee education, and interactions among medical teams, patients, and caregivers. This paper first reviews key clinical cases where the technology has affected patient care. It then discusses 3-dimensional printing in trainee education. Thereafter, the role of this technology in communication with multidisciplinary teams, patients, and caregivers is described. Finally, the paper reviews translational technologies on the horizon that promise to take this nascent field even further.

Objective

For infants with single ventricle malformations undergoing staged repair, interstage mortality is reported at 2% to 20%. The Single Ventricle Reconstruction trial randomized subjects with a single morphologic right ventricle undergoing a Norwood procedure to a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt (MBTS) or a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery shunt (RVPAS). The aim of this analysis was to explore the associations of interstage mortality and shunt type, and demographic, anatomic, and perioperative factors.

Methods

Participants in the Single Ventricle Reconstruction trial who survived to discharge after the Norwood procedure were included (n = 426). Interstage mortality was defined as death postdischarge after the Norwood procedure and before the stage II procedure. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed adjusting for site.

Results

Overall interstage mortality was 50 of 426 (12%)-13 of 225 (6%) for RVPAS and 37 of 201 (18%) for MBTS (odds ratio [OR] for MBTS, 3.4; P < .001). When moderate to severe postoperative atrioventricular valve regurgitation (AVVR) was present, interstage mortality was similar between shunt types. Interstage mortality was independently associated with gestational age less than 37 weeks (OR, 3.9; P = .008), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 2.6; P = .04), aortic atresia/mitral atresia (OR, 2.3; P = .03), greater number of post-Norwood complications (OR, 1.2; P = .006), census block poverty level (P = .003), and MBTS in subjects with no or mild postoperative AVVR (OR, 9.7; P < .001).

Conclusions

Interstage mortality remains high at 12% and is increased with the MBTS compared with the RVPAS if postoperative AVVR is absent or mild. Preterm delivery, anatomic, and socioeconomic factors are also important. Avoiding preterm delivery when possible and close surveillance after Norwood hospitalization for infants with identified risk factors may reduce interstage mortality.