title: Three-dimensional laser flow measurements of a patient-specific fontan physiology with mechanical circulatory assistance.
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.
authors: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors: Steven G
authors: SG
authors: Chopski
authors: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors: Owen M
authors: OM
authors: Rangus
authors: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors: Emily A
authors: EA
authors: Downs
authors: Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.|School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors: William B
authors: WB
authors: Moskowitz
authors: Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, School of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
authors: Amy L
authors: AL
authors: Throckmorton
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D018729:Fontan Procedure / Q000379:methods*; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular
keywords: Blood pump; Fontan; Heart pump; Mechanical circulatory assistance; Particle image velocimetry; Pediatric circulatory support; Rotary blood pump; Single ventricle physiology