Domain expert evaluation of advanced visual computing solutions and 3D printing for the planning of the left atrial appendage occluder interventions

Advanced visual computing solutions and three-dimensional (3D) printing are moving from engineering to clinical pipelines for training, planning, and guidance of complex interventions. 3D imaging and rendering, virtual reality (VR), and in-silico simulations, as well as 3D printing technologies provide complementary information to better understand the structure and function of the organs, thereby improving and personalizing clinical decisions. In this study, we evaluated several advanced visual computing solutions, such as web-based 3D imaging visualization, VR, and computational fluid simulations, together with 3D printing, for the planning of the left atrial appendage occluder (LAAO) device implantations. Six cardiologists tested different technologies in pre-operative data of five patients to identify the usability, limitations, and requirements for the clinical translation of each technology through a qualitative questionnaire. The obtained results demonstrate the potential impact of advanced visual computing solutions and 3D printing to improve the planning of LAAO interventions as well as the need for their integration into a single workflow to be used in a clinical environment.