Surgery for Chronic Postinfarct Ventricular Pseudoaneurysm Using 3-Dimensional Printing

Abstract

The use of 3-dimensional printing allows for preoperative planning in complex cardiac surgery. It provides a digital and physical model of patient-specific anatomy that may aid in decision making. Our case describes a 64-year-old patient with a late presentation of myocardial infarction complicated by the development of chronic postinfarction ventricular septal defect with interventricular pseudoaneurysm. We utilized a 3-dimensional-printed model of the patient’s heart to identify the location of the defect preoperatively. From this case, we believe that 3-dimensional modeling may aid preoperative planning, particularly in complex anatomy. Time, cost, and precision are limitations to the routine clinical application of this technology.