ABSTRACT
Surgical treatment of pediatric congenital heart disease with tissue grafts is a lifesaving intervention. Decellularization to reduce immunogenicity of tissue grafts is an increasingly popular alternative to glutaraldehyde fixation. Here, we present a protocol to decellularize porcine right ventricular outflow tracts using a 3D printed flow chamber. We describe steps for 3D printing the flow rig, preparing porcine tissue, and using the flow rig to utilize shear forces for decellularization. We then detail procedures for characterizing the acellular scaffold. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Vafaee et al.1.
Subject(s)
Heart Ventricles , Printing, Three-Dimensional , Swine , Humans , Child , Animals , Heart Ventricles/diagnostic imagingABSTRACT
Communication between clinicians and patients and communication within clinical teams is widely recognized as a tool through which improved patient outcomes can be achieved. As emerging technologies, there is a notable lack of commentary on the role of immersive virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) in enhancing medical communication. This scoping review aims to map the current landscape of literature on this topic and highlights gaps in the evidence to inform future endeavors. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted across 3 databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase), yielding 1000 articles, of which 623 were individually screened for relevance. Ultimately, 22 articles were selected for inclusion and review. Similarities across the cohort of studies included small sample sizes, observational study design, use of questionnaires, and more VR studies than AR. The majority of studies found these technologies to improve medical communication, although user tolerability limitations were identified. More studies are required, presenting more robust findings, in order to draw more definitive conclusions and stronger recommendations for use of immersive VR/AR in clinical environments.