Patient Specific Mitral Valve Modeling for Surgical Planning and Training
Patient Specific Mitral Valve Modeling for Surgical Planning and Training
Mitral valve disease is a common pathologic problem occurring in approximately 2% of the
 general population but climbing to 10% in those over the age of 75 in Canada[1]. This project
 has three primary goals all of which will positively affect cardiac patient care.

 1) Create patient specific MV models for complex repairs that will allow surgeons the
 opportunity to practice the repair. 2) Potentially predict the outcomes following minimally
 invasive repair techniques such as transcatheter treatments (e.g., MitraClip). 3) Provide a
 model to train individuals on mitral valve repair techniques.
BACKGROUND Mitral valve disease is a common pathologic problem occurring in approximately 2%
 of the general population, but climbing to 10% in those over the age of 75 in Canada. Of this
 group, approximately 20% have a sufficiently severe form of the disease that may require
 surgical intervention to restore normal valve function and prevent early mortality [4].
 Evidence indicates that the surgeon's individual volume of mitral valve repair cases
 performed is a determinant of not only successful mitral repair rates, but also freedom from
 reoperation, and patient survival. For patients previously deemed inoperable due to
 co-morbidities, new techniques to treat mitral valve disease are being developed. However,
 assessing the optimal approach and the point at which clinical benefit is exceeded by the
 poor value or futility of the procedure is one of the biggest clinical challenges for
 physicians.

 In the past decade, 3D echocardiography has emerged as a standard of care in diagnostic and
 interventional imaging for cardiac surgery and cardiology. This, coupled with the emergence
 of inexpensive 3D printing technology has led researchers and clinicians to explore how
 improved imaging and additive manufacturing can be used to improve patient outcomes.

 In this context, the investigators have completed a proof-of-concept workflow for creating
 dynamic, patient specific mitral valve models. In concert with a left ventricle simulator 8],
 these valve models can mimic patient valve pathologies both anatomically and dynamically, as
 shown in Doppler ultrasound. In a 10 patient retrospective study, the investigators have
 demonstrated the ability to accurately re-create patient pathology, perform realistic
 surgical repairs, and assess realistic valve function post repair. The study team's vision is
 to create a simulator that can be used to assess patient candidacy for percutaneous
 interventions, assess different repair options for both percutaneous and surgical
 interventions, and finally use the model as a simulator for competency-based MV
 interventions.

 RATIONALE Based on our successful proof of concept, the goal is to translate this technology
 to clinical use by validating our valve models. There are two primary long term goals. First,
 to validate a system for using patient specific MV models to: 1- assess intervention options,
 and 2: plan repair strategies for improved patient outcomes. Second, by building a database
 of MV pathologies, create a competency based simulator/trainer to provide surgeons with
 increased experience in MV repair techniques.

 OBJECTIVES

 1. Validate the accuracy of patient specific MV pathologies and repairs in a prospective 65
 patient study;

 2. Optimize our work-flow for creating valve models, in terms of accuracy, manufacture time
 required, and expense;

 3. Validate the accuracy of our patient models for both surgical cases and transcatheter
 MitraClip interventions;
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Patients undergo mitral valve repair with either surgery of MitraClip techniques

 -  Over 18 years old

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Unable to place TEE probe

 -  Refuse consent