Christoph Benk1, Ramona Lorenz2,
Jürgen Hennig2,3, Friedhelm Beyersdorf1, Jan G.
Korvink, 3,4, Michael Markl2
1Dept. of Cardiovascular Surgery,
University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany; 2Dept. of Diagnostic
Radiology, Medical Physics, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany; 3FRIAS,
Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies, Freiburg, Germany; 4Laboratory
for Simulation, IMTEK - Institute of Microsystem Technology, Freiburg,
Germany
The
use of paracorporeal ventricular assist devices (PVAD) has become a
well-established procedure for patients with cardiogenic shock or who need
biventricular support. However, implantation of Ventricular assist devices
(VADs) is often associated with severe complications such as thrombosis
inside the VAD and subsequent embolic events. It was therefore the purpose of
this study to use flow sensitive 4D MRI for a detailed analysis of local and
global 3D flow dynamics in a clinical routine VAD to study the effect of different system adjustments and valve
designs on flow patterns.