Background Three-dimensional (3D) printing technology enables the translation of 2-dimensional (2D) medical imaging into a physical replica of a patient’s individual anatomy and may enhance the understanding of congenital heart defects (CHD). We aimed to evaluate the usefulness of a spectrum of 3D-printed models in teaching CHD to medical students. Results We performed a prospective, randomized educational procedure to teach fifth year medical students four CHDs (atrial septal defect (ASD, n = 74), ventricular septal defect (VSD, n = 50), coarctation of aorta (CoA, n = 118) and tetralogy of Fallot (ToF, n = 105)). Students were randomized into printing groups or control groups. All students received the same 20 min lecture with projected digital 2D images. The printing groups also manipulated 3D printed models during the lecture. Both groups answered an objective survey (Multiple-choice questionnaire) twice, pre- and post-test, and completed a post-lecture subjective survey. Three hundred forty-seven students were included and both teaching groups for each CHD were comparable in age, sex and pre-test score. Overall, objective knowledge improved after the lecture and was higher in the printing group compared to the control group (16.3 ± 2.6 vs 14.8 ± 2.8 out of 20, p < 0.0001). Similar results were observed for each CHD (p = 0.0001 ASD group; p = 0.002 VSD group; p = 0.0005 CoA group; p = 0.003 ToF group). Students’ opinion of their understanding of CHDs was higher in the printing group compared to the control group (respectively 4.2 ± 0.5 vs 3.8 ± 0.4 out of 5, p < 0.0001). Conclusion The use of 3D printed models in CHD lectures improve both objective knowledge and learner satisfaction for medical students. The practice should be mainstreamed.

3D TTE is accurate to assess PV morphology and PA size in patients with TOF. 2D TTE and CT underestimate PA diameter with reference to surgical diameter, however 3D mean and maximum diameters did not differ significantly.

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A trans-catheter closure of an atrial septal defect (ASD) is efficient. Balloon sizing (BS) during the catheterization leads to an overestimation of ASD size. Three-dimensional transoesophageal echocardiography (3D-TEE) allows the ASD morphology to be assessed comprehensively. The aim of this study was to assess the relationships between the shape and the measurements of ASDs by 2D-, 3D-TEE, and BS in children. Methods and resultsThirty children who underwent percutaneous closures of a single ASD were enrolled. ASD diameters were measured by 2D-transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), 2D-TEE, 3D-TEE and compared with BS. The ASD area was measured on 3D-TEE images after multi-planar reconstruction. ASD was estimated as round or oval on 3D-TEE 'en-face' view. 2D-TTE, 2D-TEE, and 3D-TEE max ASD diameters were well correlated with BS (r ¼ 0.75; 0.80, and 0.85, respectively). Mean diameters were all significantly smaller than the mean BS. The mean difference between the balloon area and 3D-TEE area was 1.6 + 1.4 cm 2 (P , 0.0001). The mean difference between BS and 3D-TEE max diameters was higher in round ASDs than in oval ASDs (4.0 + 3.3 vs. 1.1 + 3.3, P ¼ 0.02). With multivariate linear regression analysis, two formulas were built to predict BS. The first model was BS ¼ 1.07 × 3D-TEE max 2 3.1 × ASDshape + 3. The ASD shape was 0 for round and 1 for oval ASDs. A second model was BS ¼ 4.5 × ASDarea + 11.5. ConclusionThe ASD shape is accurately estimated by 3D-TEE and influences the relationship between echocardiographic measurements and BS. The ASD shape, its maximal diameter and the area assessed by 3D-TEE may be sufficient to determine the device size without BS in children.--

Cardiac catheterization has contributed to the progress made in the management of patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). First, it allowed clarification of the diagnostic assessment of CHD, by offering a better understanding of normal cardiac physiology and the pathophysiology and anatomy of complex malformations. Then, it became an alternative to surgery and a major component of the therapeutic approach for some CHD lesions. Nowadays, techniques have evolved and cardiac catheterization is widely used to percutaneously close intracardiac shunts, to relieve obstructive valvar or vessel lesions, and for transcatheter valve replacement. Accurate imaging is mandatory to guide these procedures. Cardiac imaging during catheterization of CHD must provide accurate images of lesions, surrounding cardiac structures, medical devices and tools used to deliver them. Cardiac imaging has to be 'real-time' with an excellent temporal resolution to ensure 'eyes-hands' synchronization and 'device-target area' accurate positioning. In this comprehensive review, we provide an overview of conventional cardiac imaging tools used in the catheterization laboratory in daily practice, as well as the effect of recent evolution and future imaging modalities.