Hemodynamic characterization of Aortic Valve Bypass Surgery (AVBS) using patient-specific computational models based on MRA and PCMR

Background AVBS is an option for patients who suffer from both aortic valve stenosis and severe ascending aortic calcification. In AVBS, a conduit containing a prosthetic valve is introduced into the LV transapically and attached to the descending thoracic aorta (Fig 1). However, AVBS patients tend to suffer from a higher number of cerebral events, and intra-aortic thrombus has been reported (Kotani et al, ICVTS, 2009). The objective of this study is to use Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA), Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance (PCMR), and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) to understand the hemodynamics of AVBS in order to correlate how flow patterns may relate to post-surgical complications.