Vinmec performs thoracic reconstruction surgery using titanium using 3D printing technology

Today, September 18, doctors at Vinmec Times City International General Hospital (Vinmec Hanoi Hospital) and engineers from the Center for 3D Technology in Medicine, VinUni University announced the successful implementation of radical surgery to remove a mediastinal tumor and reconstruct the patient's chest using titanium material.

Doctors at Vinmec Hospital and chest wall reconstruction surgery for patients with late-stage breast cancer, complex invasion of the chest wall

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY HOSPITAL

The patient who underwent surgery was a 55-year-old female (in Ha Nam), who was diagnosed with a chest tumor (anterior mediastinal tumor) at the provincial hospital.

The patient came to Vinmec Hospital for treatment. Here, multidisciplinary doctors consulted and determined that the mediastinal tumor was large (11.5 cm), had complicatedly invaded the left chest wall; ribs 2, 3, 4, the upper lobe of the left lung and part of the sternum, causing serious compression on the heart, lungs and surrounding organs.

The case was diagnosed at a late stage, chemotherapy and radiotherapy were no longer effective, and could only be resolved by wide surgical excision of the tumor along with the sternum and adjacent ribs.

Special structure

In addition to the tumor removal, the patient also faced a major challenge in reconstructing the chest wall to protect the heart and lung function after surgery. If not properly reconstructed, the risk of respiratory failure and injury to internal organs will increase significantly.

The reconstructed rib cage has a special structure, suitable for the function of continuously moving and expanding with breathing.

PHOTO: PROVIDED BY HOSPITAL

The thoracic cage has a special structure because it is not a static structure but continuously moves in expansion and contraction according to the breathing rhythm and the activity of the heart and lungs. Therefore, a large defect in the anterior chest wall is a major challenge in restoring the anatomical structure for this position.

To perform the chest reconstruction, the design team, including thoracic cardiology and orthopedic trauma experts from Vinmec and the engineering team from the Center for 3D Technology in Medicine, VinUni University, spent 3 weeks researching and testing dozens of simulation scenarios to achieve the highest design accuracy.

The product integrates an anti-lung hernia mesh, an outstanding advantage compared to surgeries around the world (which require printing many separate pieces to protect the lungs and heart), helping to minimize the risk of separate pieces being displaced in the body after surgery.

Chest reconstruction, ensuring respiratory capacity

On September 11, leading experts in cardiovascular, orthopedic and musculoskeletal trauma at Vinmec Times City General Hospital successfully reconstructed almost the entire left chest for the patient, after nearly 3 hours of surgery.

Previously, the patient had undergone the first surgery to completely remove the mediastinal tumor invading the chest area.

In this second surgery, the doctors focused on restoring the anatomical structure of the chest area, ensuring respiratory function and the necessary protection for important internal organs. During the surgery, the graft was tested for function. Accordingly, the fit was 99% and ensured normal breathing for the patient.

Just one day after surgery, the patient was able to sit up and talk normally, recovered well and was discharged after 5 days.

According to published scientific reports, in the past 10 years, there have been about 50 cases of 3D thoracic defect reconstruction using titanium alloy materials in the US, Europe, Korea, and China.

The above patient at Vinmec is the first case in Southeast Asia; and Vietnam is the 4th country in Asia to use the entire artificial bone, anti-hernia mesh for the heart and lungs that is completely designed and 3D printed from titanium material.

The success of the surgery created a turning point in the restoration of large chest defects in Vietnam, opening up great opportunities in other fields, such as maxillofacial reconstruction, soft tissue reconstruction, contributing to improving treatment effectiveness and shortening recovery time for patients.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vinmec-phau-thuat-tai-tao-long-nguc-bang-titan-ung-dung-cong-nghe-in-3d-185240918181354974.htm