Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Surgeons train to save lives with 3D printing
Surgeons train to save lives with 3D printing
A team at Christchurch Hospital is 3D printing models of babies’ chests to train surgeons for a life-saving procedure.
Oesophageal atresia is a congenital abnormality that affects 1 in 4000 babies.
The most common form of oesophageal atresia is when the upper oesophagus, which should run from the mouth to the stomach, instead comes to a dead end. The lower section of the oesophagus connects the windpipe to the stomach.
The baby cannot swallow food, and there is a risk it will overflow into the lungs. There is also a risk breathing will pass air into the stomach rather than into the lungs.
Professor Spencer Beasley, a paediatric surgeon at Christchurch Hospital, is one of the foremost global experts on oesophageal atresia.
“We normally do the surgery within a day or so of birth, which entails separating the lower section of oesophagus from the windpipe and connecting it to the upper section so the baby can swallow saliva and food.”
He says the surgery is common enough that paediatric surgeons will certainly come across it, but rare enough that it is difficult to train them in the procedure.
“Up until now, people have their first attempt at doing the surgery with actual patients.”
Simulations for the surgery created overseas often involve practicing on animal tissue or live animals.
“This presents huge ethical problems, cost problems, and procurement problems,” Spencer says.
Paediatric Surgeon Jon Wells had the idea to 3D print a model to simulate the surgery, and Spencer helped him develop it.
They collaborated with the Canterbury DHB Medical Physics & Bioengineering department to create a lifelike replica of a ribcage, based on CT scans of a real baby.
They also developed a synthetic skin and, most importantly, a replica of an oesophagus and windpipe with the most common form of oesophageal atresia. This contains different layers of synthetic tissue that behave naturally and cause realistic problems for surgeons.
The ribcage is reusable, and the internal organs are easily and cheaply replaced between simulations.
“One of our aims is to make this model deliberately cheap so it can be used anywhere in the world,” Spencer says.
The team has also collaborated with Toronto University, which has supplied software that measures surgeons’ efficiency in the simulation. Final-year medical student David Nair has been responsible for establishing its validity as an effective and useful training model.
The 3D-printed simulation has been developed in partnership with Canterbury DHB as part of the health board’s focus on using technology to improve healthcare for patients and staff.
ENDS
Canterbury DHB
CDHB
Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) is a Christchurch, New Zealand based hospital and healthcare provider for the
Canterbury region of New Zealand. Our region extends from Kekerengu in the North, to Rangitata in the South and Arthurs Pass in the West and comprises the six Territorial Local Authorities of Kaikoura, Hurunui, Waimakariri, Christchurch City, Selwyn and Ashburton.
We collaborate with other health and disability organisations, stakeholders and our community to decide what health and disability services are needed and how to best use the funding we receive from Government to improve, promote and protect the health, wellbeing and independence of our population.
At the Canterbury DHB, our vision is to improve the health and wellbeing of people living in Canterbury.
University of Canterbury: $1.35 Million Grant To Study Lion-like Jumping Spiders
Federated Farmers: Government Ends War On Farming
University of Auckland: NZ Researchers Drive Work On International AI Framework
Woolworths: Rolling Out Team Safety Cameras To All Stores As Critical Tool For De-escalating Conflict 
Consumer NZ: Environmentally Conscious Shoppers At Risk Of Being Greenwashed
Hugh Grant: Facing The Future - The Use Of Biometric Tech
