April 25, 2018 – Nemours Children’s Health System, a Florida-based health system with locations in six states, is now using in-housemedical 3-D printingtechnology to create surgical models utilizing a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved segmentation software. The software helps surgeons plan complex multidisciplinary cases in interventional radiology, cancer surgery and cardiac surgery. These models serve as a pre-planning blueprint and roadmap for Nemours surgeons and proceduralists, increasing confidence, reducing procedure times and minimizing unexpected findings while in the operating room.
“The simulation aspect of 3-D modeling is a game changer. To be able to look at a model of a tumor from all angles, without the restrictions of a 2-D image on a computer screen, is completely changing how we are planning complex surgery,” said Craig Johnson, DO, chair of medical imaging and enterprise director of interventional radiology.
Using modified models from volumetric 2-D computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), physicians can runsimulations在多学科团队的参与下，更准确地确定手术所需的工具，减少浪费。For example, certain models enable surgeons to drill holes in them to measure and select the appropriate medical equipment to use during the procedure.
“Three-dimensional modeling prepares us by helping us know exactly what we’re going to do. We do not have to plan on the spot if we come across something unexpected. Instead we’ve had imaging from radiology as well and the model,” said Tamarah J. Westmoreland, M.D., Ph.D., a世界杯2022赛程时间表surgeon at Nemours Children’s Health System. “The surgery is almost like a musical concert. It is rehearsed, planned and then executed without complication.”
3d模型在向患者及其家人解释手术过程方面也很有价值。对父母来说，超声、核磁共振或CTR都很难理解。相反，内穆尔团队使用的是该患者的真实大小的3d模型。在很多情况下，当护理团队解释他们的治疗计划时，病人的房间里就有高保真度的模型。
“When we use a model to explain to a parent or a child a procedure, it’s clear, this approach is different,” Johnson explained. “They are able to visualize what we are going to do and it sets them at ease.”
杰西卡·刘易斯是内穆尔一位病人的母亲，她亲身经历了这一切。她13岁的儿子玛拉基患有罕见的先天性冠状动脉畸形，需要在内穆尔进行心脏手术。
“I was able to turn the model of my son’s artery around and look at it from all sides,” said Lewis. “The more educated you are about the procedure, the more empowered you feel because you completely understand what is going on with your child.”
The 3-D model printing service is yet to be reimbursable by insurance companies, but Daniel Podberesky, M.D., radiologist in chief at Nemours Children’s Health System, believes it is the right approach when it comes to providing the very best care.
“We are looking for ways to stay cutting-edge, all the while doing a better job clinically and helping families better understand what’s happening to their child,” said Podberesky.
For more information:www.nemours.org
August 03, 2022
