3D-Printed Airway Splint Helps Baby to Breathe Normally

A 18-month-old baby hooked to a ventilator just to stay alive, was recently discharged from University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital following a surgery where a 3D-printed airway splint now helps him breathe on his own.

Garrett Peterson suffers from a serious form of Tracheobronchomalacia, which causes his breathing airways to collapse, CNet reported.

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Natalie Peterson, the baby's mother said that earlier nothing would stop him to turn blue as even lifting his legs while changing his diapers would collapse his airways and there was nothing they could do to help him.

Glenn Green, one of the doctors who developed the device, said that they know that splint was working and the toddler was able to ventilate both lungs for the first time.

The baby was surgically fitted with a custom splint, which was printed based on a 3D model made from a CT scan of the baby's bronchi and trachea.

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According to an article, implementation of a bundle for prevention of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) in critically ill infants and children may lead to lower rates of VAP in these patients.

Source-ANI

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