Hospital Uses 3D Printed Models to Improve Surgical Planning

Hong Kong Eastern Hospital has developed new 3D printed models of newborn babies’ lungs to help doctors practice treating pneumothorax, a potentially dangerous condition where air builds up in the pleural cavity. The condition can cause lung collapse and affect breathing and heart function, requiring prompt medical intervention.

The hospital’s research team combined artificial intelligence with real patient data, including CT scans, to create the models. To achieve realistic tissue properties, the team incorporated biological data from pig and chicken tissues in their development process.

The models address a specific challenge in medical training: the relative rarity of pneumothorax cases in newborns makes it difficult for doctors to gain hands-on experience. These 3D printed simulations provide a practical solution for medical staff to practice the delicate procedure before performing it on actual patients.

“This is a very complicated procedure, we need to follow the steps very meticulously, we can’t risk the patient because of some inexperience or wrong steps. Therefore we need very good training on the doctors before we allow them to perform the procedure on a real patient,” explains Dr. Victor Chan, Consultant for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Eastern Hospital.

The timing of treatment is particularly crucial for newborn patients, whose condition can deteriorate rapidly without proper intervention. These training models allow doctors to practice the precise steps needed for successful treatment while maintaining patient safety standards.

Source: news.rthk.hk