Simulation and virtual reality visualization for planning stenting procedure of sinus venosus defect

The superior sinus venosus atrial septal defect (SVASD) is a congenital cardiac anomaly characterized by an abnormal communication between the right and left atria at the superior vena cava (SVC)-right atrial junction, often accompanied by anomalous pulmonary venous drainage. While surgical correction has historically been the standard treatment, covered stent correction (CSC) has recently emerged as a minimally invasive alternative to restore anatomical and physiological conditions. Planning successful CSC interventions is challenging because of the anatomical complexity which impedes the prediction of procedural outcomes. This study aimed to use numerical simulations to evaluate the feasibility of stent implantation for SVASD repair. The implantation of Cheatham Platinum (CP) stent was modeled with finite element analysis and simulated using patient-specific anatomical data. Possible post-operative scenarios were visualized with virtual reality to allow an immersive inspection of the anatomical repair. Results demonstrate that the stent achieve complete defect closure while preserving pulmonary venous drainage to the left atrium. These findings suggest that CSC could serve as a safe and effective alternative to surgery, with numerical simulations proving to be valuable tools for optimizing device implantation and procedural planning via a novel immersive experience.