A novel approach to visualization of the right ventricular outflow tract

Abstract

Introduction: Nowadays, heart is one of the most demanding organs for imaging procedures. This is related to its irregular shape and complex internal structure. Increased demand for imaging complex cardiac structures has resulted in the development of novel 3D modeling techniques. Not only did the methods of imaging the organs of the living patients developed in recent years, but also new methods of post-mortem analysis. Acquired 3D models have a number of applications, both clinical and educational. Detailed knowledge of the morphology of right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) is extremely important in terms of cardio-invasive therapeutic procedures. Its significance was noticed during the exploration of the optimal pacing sites in the area of right ventricle. What is more, accurate analysis of the RVOT morphology and spatial structure is also the basis for the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias which foci are located within the outflow tract. The aim of this study was to elaborate the most accurate technique of preparing interior models of the right ventricle and digitizing them to the 3D form. For this purpose we used a silicone molding of the heart cavities with digital photogrammetry.

Clinical anatomy of the spatial structure of the right ventricular outflow trac

“…The hearts were fixed in formalin solution. In order to obtain the RVOT model, 40 silicone internal models of the RV were first made according to the procedure described in Kaczyńska et al 7 (Fig. 1).…”