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Author Notes:

Ajit P. Yoganathan, PhD, Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, 313 Ferst Dr, Atlanta, GA 30332. Email: ajit.yoganathan@bme.gatech.edu

Authors have nothing to disclose with regard to commercial support.

Subjects:

Research Funding:

This study was supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grants HL67622 and R01HL098252, and a Pre-Doctoral Fellowship Award (10PRE3720002) from the American Heart Association.

Keywords:

  • Science & Technology
  • Life Sciences & Biomedicine
  • Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
  • Respiratory System
  • Surgery
  • Cardiovascular System & Cardiology
  • TOTAL CAVOPULMONARY CONNECTION
  • COMPUTATIONAL FLUID-DYNAMICS
  • SINGLE-VENTRICLE
  • EXERCISE
  • FLOW
  • ATRIOPULMONARY
  • OPTIMIZATION
  • CHILDREN
  • BAFFLE
  • VITRO

Simulating hemodynamics of the Fontan Y-graft based on patient-specific in vivo connections

Tools:

Journal Title:

Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery

Volume:

Volume 145, Number 3

Publisher:

, Pages 663-670

Type of Work:

Article | Post-print: After Peer Review

Abstract:

Background: Using a bifurcated Y-graft as the Fontan baffle is hypothesized to streamline and improve flow dynamics through the total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC). This study conducted numerical simulations to evaluate this hypothesis using postoperative data from 5 patients. Methods: Patients were imaged with cardiac magnetic resonance or computed tomography after receiving a bifurcated aorto-iliac Y-graft as their Fontan conduit. Numerical simulations were performed using in vivo flow rates, as well as 2 levels of simulated exercise. Two TCPC models were virtually created for each patient to serve as the basis for hemodynamic comparison. Comparative metrics included connection flow resistance and inferior vena caval flow distribution. Results: Results demonstrate good hemodynamic outcomes for the Y-graft options. The consistency of inferior vena caval flow distribution was improved over TCPC controls, whereas the connection resistances were generally no different from the TCPC values, except for 1 case in which there was a marked improvement under both resting and exercise conditions. Examination of the connection hemodynamics as they relate to surgical Y-graft implementation identified critical strategies and modifications that are needed to potentially realize the theoretical efficiency of such bifurcated connection designs. Conclusions: Five consecutive patients received a Y-graft connection to complete their Fontan procedure with positive hemodynamic results. Refining the surgical technique for implementation should result in further energetic improvements that may help improve long-term outcomes.

Copyright information:

© 2013 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

This is an Open Access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

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