Seeking for Perfected Aortic Arch Reconstruction Using a Graphically Designed Patient-specific Surgical Patch

A New Approach to Vascular Reconstruction Using Graphical 3D Printing and Flow Modelling to Create Personalized Precision Engineered Surgery

Vascular Reconstruction is one of the most challenging areas of surgery, the surgeon has to create a completely watertight reconstruction without any narrowing or deformity that will restore normal flow characteristics, even at high pressures. Nowhere is this more challenging than in neonatal heart surgery where babies born with aortic arch narrowing or underdevelopment are one of the commonest life-threatening cardiovascular conditions.

Reconstruction not only has to recreate normal anatomy but also allow for subsequent growth and development.

Until now, surgical reconstruction depended on the surgeon's subjective assessment of the anatomy and a best estimate of patch shaping and design. New engineering techniques have enabled us to create 3D printed models of real hearts and then recreate the actual surgery on these models using a variety of engineered patches and different surgical techniques. These reconstructed models can now be placed in flow-testing rigs and undergo 4-dimensional flow imaging to provide high-fidelity velocity and shear force analysis that allow for precision design of the ideal geometry to give optimal flow.

This project will combine the skills of the largest team of neonatal heart surgeons in Canada, working with cardiac imaging experts, physicists and biomechanical engineers who are recognized as the world leaders in 3D printing technologies for congenital heart disease. Using a series of rigorous repeated tests and different designs we will define the ideal techniques and patch shapes and then translate this to real cases where a precision-shaped personalized patch can be created for each individual. Following up these babies as they grow with precision 3D scanning will show how these vessels are growing. Our mathematics-driven approach will make the surgery easier, shorter and more efficient. It will also provide more consistent surgical results among surgeons.

Study Overview

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Conditions: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS); Aortic Arch Hypoplasia
• Intervention / Treatment: Procedure: Personalized patch template

Detailed Description

Aortic arch reconstruction complications can be prevented or minimalized by personalizing the surgical technique and patch through mathematical computer modeling and 3D printing.

This is a feasibility study on the use of graphical 3D printing and flow modelling in the creation of personalized patch templates for the Norwood procedure and aortic arch reconstruction.

Patients undergoing the Norwood procedure as part of standard of care will be approached for consent. Patients who consent to the study will undergo a pre-operative contrast CT scan to design simulation models and to identify the most ideal aortic arch configuration. 3D printing of the sterilizable template will be done after computer-aided design of bespoke surgical patches and will be based on pre-operative imaging and simulation. The sterilizable patch template will be used by the surgeon as a guide to fashioning the precise size and shape of the patch.

A research CT scan will be done post-operatively, prior to patient discharge. The post-op CT scan will be used to create a 3D printed model of the reconstructed aortic arch, This 3D printed model will then undergo 4D MRI scanning as part of the analysis.

Patients will be monitored and followed closely post-surgery. They will be assessed by routine post-operative tests including standard of care imaging at 4-6 months after surgery.

Clinical outcome assessment at 6-12 months after surgery will be measured.

This data will be compared to surgical outcomes of a historical cohort of patients who had traditional patches.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 30
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Cristina Salvo; Phone Number: 228847 416-813-7654; Email: cristina.salvo@sickkids.ca

Study Locations

• Canada
  • Ontario
    • Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 3X8
      • The Hospital for Sick Children
      • Contact: Cristina Salvo; Phone Number: 228847 416-813-7654; Email: cristina.salvo@sickkids.ca
      • Contact: Rita Nobile; Phone Number: 203633 416-813-7500; Email: rita.nobile@sickkids.ca
      • Principal Investigator: Israel Valverde
      • Sub-Investigator: David Barron
      • Sub-Investigator: Shi-Joon Yoo
      • Sub-Investigator: Osami Honjo
      • Sub-Investigator: Christopher Macgowan
      • Sub-Investigator: Christoph Haller
      • Sub-Investigator: Owais Khan

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Newborns, 0-2 months of age
• Requiring a Norwood procedure and aortic arch reconstruction
• Consent provided

Exclusion Criteria:

• Consent not provided
• Contraindications to contrast CT scans (allergy to contrast, kidney disease)
• Any condition or diagnosis, that could in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or delegate interfere with the participant's ability to comply with the study, might confound the interpretation of the study results, or put the participant at risk

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: Personalized Patch Template; Using each participant's pre-operative imaging, the most ideal aortic arch configuration will be identified. This will be followed by simulation of mechanical effects on the adjacent structures by overlapping the designed aortic arch model on the participant's original images. Computer-aided design of the personalized patch template will then be completed and followed by 3D printing of the sterilizable, personalized patch template.

Procedure: Personalized patch template; The personalized, sterilizable patch template will be used as the surgeon's guide in fashioning the precise size and shape of the surgical patch.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Survival Rate (%): patient status (Alive/Dead)	Survival will be recorded based on patient status at the time of discharge (in-hospital), 30 days post-surgery, and at 1-year follow-up. The unit of measure will be the percentage of patients who remain alive at each of these time points.	In hospital, at 30 days and at 1 year follow-up
Hemodynamic Stability: Inotrope Requirement (daily score)	A scale measuring the need for inotropic support, based on the number and type of inotropic medications required. Inotropic support will be quantified on a daily score (ranging from 0 to a maximum score depending on inotrope usage).	Post-op Day 1: Initial assessment within 24 hours of surgery, Post-op Days 2-7: Daily assessments during the first week post-surgery, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year follow up: Evaluation of ongoing hemodynamic stability
Hemodynamic Stability: Blood pressure	Measured in mmHg using a standard non-invasive sphygmomanometer or an arterial catheter for continuous measurement in the ICU.	Post-op Day 1: Initial assessment within 24 hours of surgery, Post-op Days 2-7: Daily assessments during the first week post-surgery, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year follow up: Evaluation of ongoing hemodynamic stability
Hemodynamic Stability: Heart Rate	Measured in beats per minute (bpm) using ECG or pulse oximeter.	Post-op Day 1: Initial assessment within 24 hours of surgery, Post-op Days 2-7: Daily assessments during the first week post-surgery, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year follow up: Evaluation of ongoing hemodynamic stability
Hemodynamic Stability: Oxygen Saturations (SpO2)	Measured as a percentage (%) using a pulse oximeter.	Post-op Day 1: Initial assessment within 24 hours of surgery, Post-op Days 2-7: Daily assessments during the first week post-surgery, 1 month, 6 months, 1 year follow up: Evaluation of ongoing hemodynamic stability

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Need for Re-intervention or Additional Surgeries (%)	Patient status (Need for re-exploration, reoperation, or catheter-based interventions) measured by the percentage (%) of patients requiring additional surgical or catheter-based interventions.	During hospitalization, at 1 Month, 6 Months, and 1 Year Follow-up
Incidence of Post-operative Complications (%)	Percentage (%) of patients with complications (e.g., renal dysfunction, infection, bleeding, metabolic distress)	Post-op Days 1-3, Post-op days 4-7, Post Discharge (1 month, 6 months, 1 year)
Growth Parameters at Follow-up: Weight	Measurement of weight in kg	At hospital discharge, at 1 Month, 6 Months, and 1 Year follow-up
Growth Parameters at Follow-up: Height	Measurement of height (cm)	At hospital discharge, at 1 Month, 6 Months, and 1 Year follow-up
Growth Parameters at Follow-up: Oxygen saturation in %	Measurement of oxygen saturation SpO2 (%)	At hospital discharge, at 1 Month, 6 Months, and 1 Year follow-up
Aortic Arch Dimensions (mm)	Aortic arch dimensions in mm (measured in different sections of the arch: ascending aorta, proximal, distal, isthmus).	At pre-op, post-op day 1, and at follow-up: a 1 month, 6 months and 1 year post surgery
Flow velocity	Flow velocity in cm/s (measured using Doppler ultrasound or MRI 4D flow study).	At pre-op, post-op day 1, and at follow-up: a 1 month, 6 months and 1 year post surgery
Cardiac Function (Ventricular Function and Valve Regurgitation) and Heart Structure (Atrial Septum Integrity)	Qualitative assessment of ventricular function, the atrial septum, tricuspid regurgitation and neo-aortic regurgitation through echocardiography	At pre-op, post-op day 1, and at follow-up: a 1 month, 6 months and 1 year post surgery
Long-term Reintervention or Complications	Percentage (%) of patients requiring reintervention or experiencing complications	At 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year follow-up
Incidence of Structural Issues (Pulmonary or Bronchial Compression) (%)	Percentage (%) of patients with left pulmonary artery compression, left main bronchus compression, or aortic arch tortuosity as measured by CT or MRI scans.	At post-op Day 1 and at 1 month, 6 months and 1 year follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The Hospital for Sick Children
• Collaborators: Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR)

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): September 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): January 1, 2028
• Study Completion (Estimated): December 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: November 7, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 24, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): February 28, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): August 1, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 29, 2025
• Last Verified: July 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Congenital heart surgery; Computer-aided design; Aortic arch reconstruction; Surgical patch; 3D modeling and printing
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Cardiovascular Abnormalities; Heart Defects, Congenital; Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1000081239

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No