Hemodynamic assessment of partial mechanical circulatory support: data derived from computed tomography angiographic images and computational fluid dynamics.

Partial mechanical circulatory support represents a new concept for the treatment of advanced heart failure. The Circulite Synergy Micro Pump(®), where the inflow cannula is connected to the left atrium and the outflow cannula to the right subclavian artery, was one of the first devices to introduce this concept to the clinic. Using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, hemodynamics in the aortic tree was visualized and quantified from computed tomography angiographic (CTA) images in two patients.

Review of recent results using computational fluid dynamics simulations in patients receiving mechanical assist devices for end-stage heart failure.

Many end-stage heart failure patients are not eligible to undergo heart transplantation due to organ shortage, and even those under consideration for transplantation might suffer long waiting periods. A better understanding of the hemodynamic impact of left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) on the cardiovascular system is therefore of great interest. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations give the opportunity to study the hemodynamics in this patient population using clinical imaging data such as computed tomographic angiography.

Modified reposition of the JOTEC prosthesis in the frozen elephant trunk procedure.

We describe a procedure in which we inserted a modified JOTEC graft following a known complication in the case of a 78-year-old male patient who underwent surgery with the frozen elephant trunk technique for an acute Stanford type A aortic dissection.