3D printing, VR playing a major role in congenital heart imaging
3D modeling, 3D printing and virtual reality (VR) are becoming more and more useful in the visualization of complex congenital and structural heart anatomies, offering clinicians ways to move beyond traditional 2D imaging.
Cardiovascular Business spoke with Kanwal Farooqi, MD, a pediatric cardiology imaging specialist and associate professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, about how her 3D lab helps add this extra dimension to patient care. She spoke about this very topic at SCCT2026, the annual meeting of the Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (SCCT).
Farooqi described how her team uses 3D models to improve the visualization of challenging cardiac anatomies and support clinical decision-making, education, procedural planning and peri-procedural guidance.
She stressed that not every patient requires a physical model. In many cases, a digital 3D reconstruction provides the necessary visualization, allowing clinicians to crop the model in different planes and manipulate the anatomy on a computer screen. But for selected complex cases, the digital model can be converted into a physical 3D-printed representation. Farooqi said these models can provide a more intuitive way for clinicians, trainees, surgeons and families to understand anatomy that can be difficult to interpret on conventional 2D CT images.
Moving from static 3D models to virtual simulations
The technology also is increasingly being used for procedural simulation.
Depending on the anatomy and clinical question, Farooqi's team can use models to simulate potential surgical approaches. For example, when patients have anomalous veins, a model can be used to demonstrate how placing a patch in different configurations could affect surrounding vessels. In more complex procedures involving movement of aortic roots, the team can manipulate the virtual anatomy to explore possible surgical approaches.
"We're trying to move more into that simulation work whenever we can," Farooqi said. "For example, if certain veins are anomalous, we can put a virtual patch in and show the surgeon and say if you put a patch in this way, you're avoiding these vessels so it's good or not. We've also started doing in more complex procedures where you move the roots on the left or right side to show the surgical approaches that a surgeon may be able to use."
The next stage of development could involve computational fluid dynamics, allowing clinicians to simulate blood flow through complex congenital anatomies and test how simulated surgical changes to the anatomy impact flow. Farooqi said such modeling could eventually help evaluate different conduit or tube placements in patients with conditions such as Fontan physiology and assess how those changes might affect blood flow to different vessels.
The applications extend beyond congenital heart disease. Farooqi noted that the same modeling processes can be applied to adult structural heart conditions, including procedures such as left atrial appendage closure and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). With more patients born with congenital heart disease surviving into adulthood, the technology could have increasing relevance for adult cardiovascular imaging and structural heart programs.
Converting CT images into virtual reality
VR provides another way to interact with the models. Farooqi's team has used VR for education involving trainees, surgeons and parents, allowing users to examine cardiac anatomy in an immersive environment.
However, she said VR is not necessarily the most practical tool for every application. Physical 3D-printed models can be easier to use in teaching environments and do not require users to wear a headset or operate a VR system.
Farooqi also emphasized the importance of developing a sustainable clinical program. Her team has started billing for 3D models, creating a revenue stream that can be reinvested into the program and support continued development.
As 3D technologies advance from visualization toward simulation and potentially flow modeling, Farooqi said their utility is likely to expand across cardiac imaging and other medical specialties. Columbia is exploring applications with surgical fields outside cardiology, including orthopedics and otolaryngology.
Dave Fornell has covered healthcare for more than 17 years, with a focus in cardiology and radiology. Fornell is a 5-time winner of a Jesse H. Neal Award, the most prestigious editorial honors in the field of specialized journalism. The wins included best technical content, best use of social media and best COVID-19 coverage. Fornell was also a three-time Neal finalist for best range of work by a single author. He produces more than 100 editorial videos each year, most of them interviews with key opinion leaders in medicine. He also writes technical articles, covers key trends, conducts video hospital site visits, and is very involved with social media. E-mail: [email protected]