OFweek's 3D printing network has been exploring 3D bio-printing technology for years. In recent times, numerous hospitals around the world have successfully integrated 3D printing into clinical medical treatments. From 3D printed ankles and prosthetic hands to 3D printed ears, what once seemed impossible is now becoming a reality.
Three months after birth, a baby known as Morning (a pseudonym) was frequently hospitalized due to pneumonia. After thorough examinations, doctors discovered that the child had a heart condition — a hole in the heart. The initial surgery didn't go as planned; during the operation, it was found that there were more holes than previously detected, and the child couldn’t be taken off the ventilator. Faced with this challenge, the medical team decided to use 3D printing to create a miniature model of the child’s heart. This allowed them to simulate the surgery multiple times, practicing the procedure until they were confident in their approach. During the second operation, the surgeons successfully closed all the holes, saving the child’s life.
[Image: A 3D-printed heart model used in the surgery]
**Heartbreaking Story of a 3-Month-Old Baby with Congenital Heart Disease**
When Morning was born, his parents weren’t worried about his health at first. However, the baby was very weak and ended up being hospitalized frequently. By the time he was three months old, he had suffered from pneumonia three times and was admitted to the hospital three separate times.
What was wrong with the child? To find out, the parents took him to Nanjing Children’s Hospital in early July. After a detailed medical history review, the doctors suspected a heart issue and recommended a visit to the cardiothoracic surgery department.
Dr. Sun Jian, deputy chief physician of the cardiothoracic surgery department, conducted a thorough examination and found that the child had a complex and severe congenital heart disease. He had multiple ventricular septal defects and a large atrial septal defect larger than 2 cm. In simple terms, the child’s heart had holes that caused blood to mix and led to severe pulmonary hypertension, resulting in repeated lung infections and hospitalizations. Upon further questioning, the doctor learned that the mother also had congenital heart disease, suggesting a possible genetic link.
**Should the Surgery Be Performed?**
“Surgery must be done as soon as possible, or the child could face life-threatening complications,†Dr. Sun explained to the parents. However, due to the complexity of the condition and the child’s small size, the risk of surgery was extremely high. The family was torn — should they proceed with the operation?
Morning’s father shared that the child’s mother had undergone heart surgery as a child and had never fully recovered. As a result, she had struggled to get pregnant, and the family cherished this child dearly.
After a detailed explanation of the risks and benefits, Dr. Sun helped the parents make an informed decision. Eventually, the family agreed to proceed with the surgery.
[Image: A 3D-printed heart model used in the surgery]
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