# Three-Dimensional Printing in Cardiothoracic Surgery: Workflow and Clinical Applications

## TL;DR

This paper describes how 3D printing is being used in cardiothoracic surgery for patient education, surgical planning, and teaching.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a free and open-source workflow for creating high-quality 3D-printed anatomical models.

## Key findings

- High-fidelity 3D models of thoracic anatomy can be created using accessible and cost-effective tools.
- The proposed toolchain is useful for patient education, surgical planning, and medical training.
- Consumer-level 3D printers now offer improved quality at reduced costs.

## Abstract

Rapid advances have been made in the field of three-dimensional (3D) printing in recent times. The hardware required to create high-fidelity, anatomically accurate 3D models of intrathoracic structures, including the great vessels and bony structures, is accessible and easy to use and utilizes consumables that are cost-effective. The quality of 3D printers, especially in consumer-level machines, has improved in recent times, while the price of the hardware has decreased. We have developed a toolchain to create 3D-printed models for use in patient education and consent, operative planning, and student/resident teaching. We outline our approach using a free and open-source toolchain, highlighting the utility of our models so that others may reproduce our techniques in their own clinical and teaching practice.