Computational Simulation, Bench Testing, and Modeling: Novel Tools to Strategize and Optimize Interventional Procedures

Although simulation was adopted many years ago to complement training programs, more recently it has become an integral part of planning individual invasive procedures as well as understanding and developing new devices and techniques. Here, we review the different types of simulation and modeling and their impact on the field of interventional cardiology. Three-dimensional model printing has been employed to strategize complex structural procedures for various congenital heart defects and valvular heart diseases. Ex vivo bench testing permitted understanding the relationship of new technologies with neighboring structures and enabled the refinement of the devices and procedural steps themselves. In vitro simulation and computational analyzes have enhanced our understanding of flow dynamics in bifurcation diseases, transcatheter therapies, congenital defects, and predicting outcomes for transcatheter valve technologies and techniques. Incorporating simulation, bench testing, computational analyzes, and three-dimensional modeling will enable the field of interventional cardiology to expand while optimizing techniques and maintaining best practices.