Cleveland Patient Receives First Ever 3D-Printed T-Tube, Thanks to University Hospitals
CLEVELAND - University Hospitals in Cleveland has made a groundbreaking advancement in patient care with the first-ever use of a patient-specific 3D-printed T-tube, which was recently placed into Sterling Brown, who had been suffering from complications related to his commercial-grade T-tube. The device was granted compassionate use by the FDA, representing a significant step forward in personalized medical solutions.
Tracheal T-tubes, which allow patients to breathe through an opening in the neck, have traditionally been available in only standard sizes. This often leads to complications, such as mucus buildup, tissue growth, and interference with vocal cords due to the mismatch with a patient's unique anatomy. Brown, who received a tracheostomy in September 2022 due to severe complications from obesity and high blood pressure, faced such issues with his commercial T-tube.
"Sterling has a very uniquely shaped airway," said Dr. Scott Howard, otolaryngologist and Director of the Voice, Airway and Swallowing Center at UH Cleveland Medical Center. "The commercially available T-tube wasn’t a good fit for him despite attempts to modify it and was causing complications including infections and damage to his vocal cords."
Patient-specific 3D printed devices have already been approved by the FDA in the form of lower airway Y-stents, which are used to relieve obstructions near the lungs. Dr. Benjamin Young, Medical Director of Bronchoscopy at UH Cleveland Medical Center, has extensive experience with these 3D printed stents. "We’ve had success using the custom airway Y-stents in several of our patients," Dr. Young stated. "When it became apparent Sterling’s T-tube was causing so much trouble for him, we believed a custom device might help if we could make it happen."
Dr. Howard obtained compassionate use approval from the FDA for a custom T-tube tailored specifically for Brown. He collaborated with VisionAir Solutions, a Cleveland-based company specializing in patient-specific silicone airway stents. Utilizing a CT scan to create a 3D model of the airway, the team developed a T-tube that fits Brown’s unique anatomy. This patient-specific T-tube was placed in Brown on June 26, 2024, and is the first of its kind.
Following the procedure, Brown, a former American Idol contestant, reported a significant improvement in his condition. "After the surgery to place this T-tube which was made for me, I had fewer complications," Brown said. "The fit is improved, and it creates less mucus. I’m talking better, and the tube is no longer damaging my vocal cords."
Dr. Howard emphasized the complexity of Brown's case, stating, "At UH, we have a world-class team, our Complex Airway Team, with multiple sub-specialists to help us collectively manage these patients and give them a better quality of life." Although Brown’s patient-specific T-tube will need periodic replacement, it offers him the possibility of longer intervals between procedures, reducing the need for frequent hospital visits.
Brown is currently receiving care and therapy in a nursing facility. With continued improvement, he may eventually have the T-tube removed, allowing him to breathe, talk, and sing naturally once again. Expressing gratitude for his medical team’s persistence, he said, "I have hope to live a normal life again and find joy in singing thanks to the determination of my doctors."
Comments