Three-dimensional laser flow measurements of a patient-specific fontan physiology with mechanical circulatory assistance.
Artif Organs
; 39(6): E67-78, 2015 Jun.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25865262
ABSTRACT
Mechanical assistance of the Fontan circulation is hypothesized to enhance ventricular preload and improve cardiac output; however, little is known about the fluid dynamics. This study is the first to investigate the three-dimensional flow conditions of a blood pump in an anatomic Fontan. Laser measurements were conducted having an axial flow impeller in the inferior vena cava. Experiments were performed for a physiologic cardiac output, pulmonary arterial flows, and pump speeds of 1000-4000 rpm. The impeller had a modest effect on the flow conditions entering the total cavopulmonary connection at low pump speeds, but a substantial impact on the velocity at higher speeds. The higher speeds of the pump disrupted the recirculation region in the center of the anastomosis, which could be advantageous for washout purposes. No retrograde velocities in the superior vena cava were measured. These findings indicate that mechanical assistance is a viable therapeutic option for patients having dysfunctional single ventricle physiology.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Heart-Assist Devices
/
Fontan Procedure
/
Hemodynamics
/
Models, Cardiovascular
Type of study:
Prognostic_studies
Limits:
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Artif Organs
Year:
2015
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States