HTG Used for First Time in Congenital Heart Defect Surgery

It was another first for EchoPixel when its Holographic Therapy Guidance (HTG) was used in a congenital heart surgery at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The procedure was conducted with a new mini 4D transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), which generates real-time ultrasound images and can be used in patients as small as 11 pounds.

A life-saving procedure

Complete atrioventricular canal (CAVC) defect is a large hole in the center of the heart that affects all four chambers where they would normally be divided. In most cases the cause isn`t known although it`s a very common type of heart defect in children with Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome). 

Infants with CAVC may have trouble feeding and growing at a normal rate and may breathe faster and harder than normal, which causes permanent damage to the lung blood vessels over time. An AV canal can be fixed by surgery where valves and heart chamber walls are reconstructed to ensure proper blood flow.

EchoPixel gives surgeons invaluable data

Because so much of the standard heart anatomy is missing, it’s important for the surgeon to understand where key functional parts of the heart are and equally important to be sure the repair worked before leaving the OR table. 

EchoPixel’s HTG technology played a key role in the successful procedure as the first FDA-approved turnkey solution which allows doctors to manipulate a real-time 4D hologram to guide their procedure. The ability to work with a digital twin of the patient at the OR table allows surgeons to see the heart working without the need to interpret images. 

Led by cardiologist Ryan Moore and surgeon David Morales, the Cincinnati Children’s team was able to use Echo Pixel’s innovative technology to plan the surgery and evaluate the competency of the surgical repair.

“The EchoPixel team has created a unique solution that allows us to plan at the OR table and evaluate the effectiveness of the surgical repair with the heart beating,” said Dr. Moore. “Cincinnati Children’s is known for its innovation and leadership, and we are excited to be part of this new option for improved congenital heart care delivery.”