Owing to 3D printer abilities 3 boys suffering from tracheobronchomalacia were saved. It is a rare disease which affects about 1 in 2,200 new born babies. The disease is characterized by underdevelopment of cartilaginous rings and thus the weakening of the wall of the trachea and bronchi. It leads to the collapse of the respiratory tract and obstructs the airflow to the lungs.
3D printers are becoming a revolution in many branches of medicine. In past, they were used only to create a model of organs before complicated surgeries. Now, they are becoming a chance to create implants made of polymer materials which are biocompatible. The use of this technology for medical purposes is of interest of many scientists and entrepreneurs. This method combines the ease of design, high precision and low price of the final products. The real breakthrough was made by American company. In 2013 it produced 3D printed liver which was fully functional and stable for more than 40 days in laboratory conditions.
According to the scientists from Michigan, Kaiba, Ian and Garrett are the first in whom this modern technology was used in order to clear the airways. Implants stiffening tracheas which were used are made of special material. It supports tissues and has the ability to change shape, so that is able to adapt to the tissues during their growth. The element was created from polycaprolactone, a biodegradable polymer, which after three years, when the child’s airways will be properly strengthened, will dissolve into the body without leaving any trace. Before this technique was used, the only conventional treatment of tracheobronchomalacia brought the risk of life-threatening complications. Tracheostomy, which was necessary, required prolonged hospitalization and its complications often led to cardiac and respiratory arrest. The rate of respiratory arrest due to occlusion of tracheostomy tubes reached even 43%.
None of the three boys, in whom bioprinted implants were used, developed any complications. Kaiba, who was operated at the age of 3 months was the first who received the new technology. Similar implants were implanted into 5-month-old Ian and 16-month-old Garrett. Now, Kaiba Gionfriddo who was equipped with the implant three years ago seems to be completely cured, and the scans show that the implants dissolved into his body as planned. Garrett Peterson, who is 2-years-old now, does not require artificial ventilation any longer. Ian Orbich, in whom the surgery was performed a year ago, is still monitored and his condition is continuously improving.
Professor Glenn Green, an associate professor of otolaryngology pediatrics at the University of Michigan, who as the first undertook performance of such surgery together with his colleague Scott Hollister, believes that this method is becoming a promising alternative for children suffering from this life threatening disease which is tracheobronchomalacia.
3D printer technology is currently one of the most advanced and sophisticated methods in medicine. Scientists do not hide their high hopes connected with the invention. Printing with alive cells is currently being developed and there are ongoing research aimed at production of organs on the basis of stem cells or patient’s induced stem cells. Creation of such complicated organ would be a real milestone in the development of this branch of science.
Written by: Klaudia Zyzak, Katarzyna Gałaszkiewicz, Agata Zwierz
Sources:
1. Mitigation of tracheobronchomalacia with 3D-printed personalized medical devices in pediatric patients, Robert Morrison, et al.,Science Translational Medicine, doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3010825, published online 29 April 2015
2. Bioresorbable airway splint created with a three-dimensional printer, Zopf DA, Hollister SJ, N Engl J Med.2013 May 23;368(21):2043-5. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1206319
3. Treatment of severe porcine tracheomalacia with a 3-dimensionally printed, bioresorbable, external airway splint. Zopf DA,Flanagan CL, JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2014 Jan;140(1):66-71. doi: 10.1001/jamaoto.2013.5644
4. Tracheomalacia and Tracheobronchomalacia in Children and Adults:An In-depth Review, Kelly A. Carden, MD Chest. 2005;127(3):984-1005. doi:10.1378/chest.127.3.984
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