ntroduction of a New Optimized Total avopulmonary Connection

p b c m m f c Background. Several variations of the total cavopulmoary connection (TCPC) have been investigated for faorable fluid mechanics and flow distribution. This study resents a hemodynamically optimized TCPC configuraion code-named “OptiFlo.” Featuring bifurcated vena ava (superior venacava to inferior vena cava SVC/IVC), t was designed to lower the fluid mechanical power osses in the connection and to ensure proper hepatic lood perfusion to both lungs. Methods. A rapid prototype model of the OptiFlo CPC was built and in vitro control volume flow analysis as performed to evaluate the fluid mechanical power oss performance of the model. Furthermore, computaional fluid dynamics simulations were used to investiate the flow patterns in the model, which were comared with those in the planar one-diameter offset TCPC ith flared anastomosis sites, the best known TCPC onfiguration to date. Results. Compared with the one-diameter offset refernce model, the OptiFlo showed lower power losses: