---
title: "Surgeons treat cardiovascular abnormality with 3D printing"
url: https://www.voxelmatters.com/surgeons-treat-cardiovascular-abnormality-with-3d-printing/
date: 2024-08-12
modified: 2024-08-11
lang: en
author: "Edward Wakefield"
description: "Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group, in collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi, has leveraged 3D printing technology to produce a 3D model of the heart and plan..."
categories:
  - "Medical AM"
  - "Medical Models"
tags:
  - "future"
image: https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ccad-PR_Main-Image-_-7-15-640x364.jpg
word_count: 526
---

# Surgeons treat cardiovascular abnormality with 3D printing

[Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, part of the M42 group](https://www.clevelandclinicabudhabi.ae/en/media-center/news/ccad-collaborates-with-nyu-abu-dhabi-to-leverage-innovative-3d-printing-technology), in collaboration with NYU Abu Dhabi, has leveraged 3D printing technology [to produce a 3D model of the heart](https://www.voxelmatters.com/stratasys-to-provide-print-on-demand-medical-models-to-ricoh-usa/) and plan a complex surgical intervention on a 41-year-old patient, Mian Mohamed Shabbie, with rare cardiovascular anomaly.

The technology, developed by NYU Abu Dhabi’s Core Technology Platform, can be used in various [fields such as cardiovascular](https://www.voxelmatters.com/fda-materialise-mimics-enlight-software/) and neurological cases. The three-stage process includes: 3D image reconstruction, a procedure that creates a three-dimensional model from raw diagnostic imaging data to provide a foundational digital framework of the patient's anatomy; 3D slicing, which allows for a more detailed analysis of the individual structures and organs in greater detail; and 3D printing, which involves building a physical replica of the patient's anatomy that the surgeon can hold, examine, and use for pre-surgical planning and simulation. This technology allows for a more precise and tailored surgical approach with the highest accuracy and minimum risks.

When Shabbie was referred to Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi in a critical condition, he was presented with complications stemming from a birth defect of the aorta - the main blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. In Shabbie’s case, his aorta – which normally has a left-sided arch after exiting the heart - had a right-sided arch with a giant aneurysm. The aneurysm itself was of a rare kind, known as Kommerell's diverticulum, which has one of the main branches of the aorta, with a bulge at the site of its origin.

![Surgeons from Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi and NYU Abu Dhabi treat cardiovascular abnormality with 3D printing.](https://www.voxelmatters.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/PR-_-Body-_image-_-2-13.jpg)Dr. Yazan Aljabery, left, and Dr. Houssam Younes, right. Source: Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

"Kommerell's diverticulum is a rare cardiovascular abnormality, even more so when combined with a right-sided aortic arch, as seen in only 0.03% of people worldwide. Due to its asymptomatic nature or presentation with symptoms commonly associated with other conditions, these congenital deformities are infrequently detected, calling for a high level of physician and technological expertise during surgical interventions," said Dr. Houssam Younes, Department Chair for Vascular Surgery within the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

"Correcting a case of Kommerell's diverticulum when the aorta arches left, as is typical, is relatively straightforward because the deformity is accessible and visible. However, when the vessel arches right, as in this case, the defect is obscured by other large vessels, making surgical interventions particularly challenging. [Using a 3D printed model](https://www.voxelmatters.com/ricoh-3d-for-healthcare-and-simbiosys-3d-print-cancer-models/) in such cases enhances the safety of the procedure and allows for more precise and tailored surgery," said Dr. Yazan Aljabery, Cardiac Surgeon at the Heart, Vascular, and Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi.

Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi has been designated by the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH) as a Centre of Excellence for Adult Cardiac Surgery, recognizing its comprehensive range of integrated cardiac surgery and structural heart disease interventions provided by a team of some of the world's most reputable cardiovascular experts. Ongoing research by the multidisciplinary teams of experts at the hospital aims to showcase that the technology is not limited to cardiovascular or neurological applications but is also valuable in other medical fields where complex anatomical structures are involved.