In a groundbreaking move poised to change the lives of infants with severe respiratory conditions, a team of doctors and engineers at Georgia Tech and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta have developed a custom 3D-printed tracheal splint. Turning 4 this week, Justice Altidor is one of the youngsters benefiting from this cutting-edge treatment after her device was implanted in October 2020, GPB reports.
The device, a brainchild of collaboration between pediatric cardiologist Dr. Kevin Maher and pediatric otolaryngologist Dr. Steven Goudy, grants new hope to children afflicted with pediatric tracheomalacia, a rare condition where the trachea is not structurally sound enough to stay open on its own. "Basically, the windpipe in infants can sometimes be floppy and so it can collapse and cause respiratory distress, respiratory failure," Dr. Maher explained. Created with a bioabsorbable material that naturally dissolves into the body, these splints are paving the way for kids who would otherwise rely on ventilators for an extended time.
With the FDA's expanded access program lending a green light, the surgeons at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta proceed cautiously, ensuring each airway support device aligns perfectly with the individual needs of their patients. The hospital has garnered a reputation as one of the select American institutions offering 3D-printed solutions for ventilator-dependent patients.
Currently, at Georgia Tech, it stands alone capable of printing these tracheal splints so whites can live their life to the fullest. According to the details shared by GPB, four patients, including Justice, have seen substantial improvements post-implantation of these airway support devices, offering a tangible glimpse into what might very well signify a new chapter in pediatric respiratory care.
