Description
Clinical History
A 21-month old boy was admitted with a history of exhaustion and exertional dyspnoea for the previous 2 to 3 months. During this time there had been several attacks of acute dyspnoea each lasting up to two minutes. Examination revealed central cyanosis, mild finger clubbing, and a harsh systolic bruit maximal at the left sternal edge. Cardiac catheterization led to a diagnosis of Fallot's tetralogy and severe pulmonary oedema. A surgical correction was performed (Willis-Potts anastomosis between the aorta and the origin of the left pulmonary artery). The child developed acute dyspnoea and left lobar consolidation 12 hours post-operatively and died despite treatment.
Pathology
The child's heart is viewed from the anterior aspect. The anterior wall of the right ventricle has been excised to reveal prominent right ventricular hypertrophy and a narrowed pulmonary outflow tract. The pulmonary valve ring is also small, with a bicuspid stenosed valve. There is a patch of endocardial fibrosis in the outflow tract below the pulmonary valve. The origin of the aorta overlies a high ventricular septal defect. A probe could be passes into the aorta from the hypertrophied right ventricle. The further probe was able to be passed from the narrowed pulmonary trunk into a dilated, thin-walled left pulmonary artery and through the surgical anastomosis into the descending aorta. Examination of the posterior aspect of the specimen reveals an opened right atrium and left ventricle. When viewed from the right side of the heart, there is a large atrial septal defect (ASD), 8 mm in diameter at the site of the foramen ovale (large arrow). Another tiny ASD (small arrow) 3 mm in diameter is present posterior to the upper border of the large ASD. Note that the wall of the left ventricle is slightly thinner than the wall of the right ventricle.
Further Information
The four features of tetralogy of Fallot are: 1. Ventricular septal defect (VSD); 2. An aorta that straddles the VSD with the latter communicating with both ventricles (over-riding aorta) instead of just the left ventricle; 3. Pulmonary stenosis or obstruction of the right ventricular overflow tract; 4. Right ventricular hypertrophy. This condition usually causes cyanosis early in life. Its severity depends on the degree of pulmonary outflow obstruction, which determines whether there is a left-to-right, or right-to-left shunt. In some patients, pulmonary blood flow is increased due to the presence of a patent ductus arteriosus. Patients with this condition may survive untreated into adult life, and a few may reach middle age. However, surgical correction is now possible and is desirable, as the disorder is ultimately fatal. Sometimes additional cardiac abnormalities may be present. (e.g. atrial septal defect, as was found in this case).
In most cases of tetralogy of Fallot, the cause is not known although in some patients, genetic factors play a role. For example, the condition is more common in patients with Down syndrome (Trisomy 21; in association with AV canal defects) or DiGeorge syndrome (22q11 deletion).
Advantages
- Anatomically accurate and identical to real specimen
- No ethical issues - not real human body parts
- Reasonably priced
- Available within a short lead time
- Reproducible, several identical prints can be used as a classroom set
- Can be produced in different sizes to cater for the needs of the teacher
Human Cadavers
- Access to cadavers can be problematic. Many countries cannot access cadavers for cultural and religious reasons
- Cadavers cost a lot money
- High cost for establishing your own plastination suite
- Wet specimens cannot be used in uncertified labs
- Dissection of cadavers is a lot of staff time and that is a cost
- Storage of cadaver material needs special refrigeration etc. which has coast
- If you want another specimen you have to start all over again
Plastinates
- Costs
- Ethical issues
- Timeframe for plastination process
- Many countries do not allow their importation
- One of a kind
Superior 3D print results compared with conventional methods
- Vibrant color offering with 10 million colors
- UV-curable inkjet printing
- High quality 3D printing that can create products that are delicate, extremely precise and incredibly realistic
Clear Support Material
- To avoid breakage of fragile, thin, and delicate arteries, veins or vessels, a clear support material is printed on such spots. This makes the models robust and can be handled by students easily.
