Bioresorbable Airway Splint Created with a Three-Dimensional Printer

An infant with localized bronchial malacia was treated with a computer-printed bioresorbable three-dimensional splint. Placement of the splint resulted in improved ventilation. To the Editor: Tracheobronchomalacia in newborns, which manifests with dynamic airway collapse and respiratory insufficienc...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe New England journal of medicine Vol. 368; no. 21; pp. 2043 - 2045
Main Authors Zopf, David A, Hollister, Scott J, Nelson, Marc E, Ohye, Richard G, Green, Glenn E
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Massachusetts Medical Society 23.05.2013
Subjects
Absorbable Implants
Computer-Aided Design
Coronary vessels
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Ostomy
Printing - methods
Pulmonary arteries
Respiratory therapy
Respiratory tract
Tracheobronchomalacia - surgery
Veins & arteries
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Summary:An infant with localized bronchial malacia was treated with a computer-printed bioresorbable three-dimensional splint. Placement of the splint resulted in improved ventilation. To the Editor: Tracheobronchomalacia in newborns, which manifests with dynamic airway collapse and respiratory insufficiency, is difficult to treat. 1 , 2 In an infant with tracheobronchomalacia, we implanted a customized, bioresorbable tracheal splint, created with a computer-aided design based on a computed tomographic image of the patient's airway and fabricated with the use of laser-based three-dimensional printing, to treat this life-threatening condition. At birth at 35 weeks' gestation, the patient did not have respiratory distress and otherwise appeared to be in normal health. At 6 weeks of age, he had chest-wall retractions and difficulty feeding. By 2 months of age, his . . .
ISSN:0028-4793
1533-4406
DOI:10.1056/NEJMc1206319