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Objective: To prospectively evaluate our hypothesis that three-dimensional time-resolved contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (TR-MRA) is able to detect hemodynamic alterations in patients with chronic expanding aortic dissection compared to stable aortic dissections., Materials and Methods: 20 patients with chronic or residual aortic dissection in the descending aorta and patent false lumen underwent TR-MRA of the aorta at 1.5 T and repeated follow-up imaging (mean follow-up 5.4 years). 7 patients showed chronic aortic expansion and 13 patients had stable aortic diameters. Regions of interest were placed in the nondissected ascending aorta and the false lumen of the descending aorta at the level of the diaphragm (FL-diaphragm level) resulting in respective time-intensity curves., Results: For the FL-diaphragm level, time-to-peak intensity and full width at half maximum were significantly shorter in the expansion group compared to the stable group ( p = 0.027 and p = 0.003), and upward and downward slopes of time-intensity curves were significantly steeper ( p = 0.015 and p = 0.005). The delay of peak intensity in the FL-diaphragm level compared to the nondissected ascending aorta was significantly shorter in the expansion group compared to the stable group ( p = 0.01)., Conclusions: 3D TR-MRA detects significant alterations of hemodynamics within the patent false lumen of chronic expanding aortic dissections compared to stable aortic dissections.

Objective: Increased use of continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices for long-term mechanical support necessitates a better understanding of hemodynamic changes in the native heart and the ascending aorta. By using patient-specific computational models, correlations of potentially adverse hemodynamic conditions with the orientation of the left ventricular assist device outflow graft and their relationship with aortic insufficiency and ischemic events were investigated., Methods: Computed hemodynamic parameters, including wall shear stress, pressure in the ascending aorta, and dissipation of turbulent energy, were correlated with the orientation of the left ventricular assist device graft outflow in 5 patients (4 with the HeartMate II device [Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, Calif] and 1 with the HeartWare Ventricular Assist Device [HeartWare Inc, Framingham, Mass]; 3 patients experienced moderate aortic insufficiency, and 2 patients experienced ischemic events). Hemodynamic conditions for aortic insufficiency and ischemic events were differentiated by linear discriminant analysis., Results: Positive correlations between left ventricular assist device outflow graft orientation and wall shear stress, pressure, and turbulent energy dissipation in the ascending aorta were found (R(2) > 0.68). Linear discriminant analysis indicated a relationship of the velocity magnitude of retrograde flow toward the aortic root with aortic insufficiency and of the turbulent energy and wall shear stress with ischemic events., Conclusions: Computational fluid dynamic simulations using clinical image data indicate altered hemodynamic conditions after left ventricular assist device implantation. Consequently, the left ventricular assist device outflow graft should be placed so the jet of blood is aimed toward the lumen of the aortic arch to avoid turbulences that will increase wall shear stress and retrograde pressure of the aortic root. Further investigations are warranted to confirm these findings in a larger patient cohort., (Copyright © 2014 The American Association for Thoracic Surgery. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study aims to investigate differences in hemodynamic conditions in the thoracic aorta for pulsatile and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Patient-specific models were reconstructed from three patients with continuous-flow LVAD (HeartMate II, Thoratec Corporation) and three patients with biventricular assist devices (Excor, Berlin Heart) where only the aortic part was included in the simulations. CFD simulations were performed with constant inflow for the continuous-flow LVADs and time-varying inflow for the pulsatile devices. Differences in flow patterns, wall shear stress (WSS), and dynamic pressure in the ascending aorta were compared for both cases. Retrograde flow patterns were observed in all cases proximal to the location of the outflow cannula anastomosis site. On average, dynamic pressures derived from the retrograde flow velocities were higher in the continuous-flow group with large variations dependent on the angle of the cannula anastomosis relative to the ascending aorta (continuous group: 0.14 ± 0.2 mm Hg, pulsatile group: 0.013 ± 0.008 mm Hg). Elevated WSS contralaterally to the anastomosis site was observed in three of the six models with higher values for the continuous cases. Lower WSS and reduced pressure in the ascending aorta, both favorable hemodynamic conditions, were found in pulsatile versus continuous-flow LVADs by means of CFD. These findings indicate, along with clinical observations reported by others, the superior performance of pulsatile LVADs., (© 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. and International Center for Artificial Organs and Transplantation.)

Over the last two decades, imaging of the aorta has undergone a clinically relevant change. As part of the change non-invasive imaging techniques have replaced invasive intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography as the former imaging gold standard for aortic diseases. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) constitute the backbone of pre- and postoperative aortic imaging because they allow for imaging of the entire aorta and its branches. The first part of this review article describes the imaging principles of CT and MRI with regard to aortic disease, shows how both technologies can be applied in every day clinical practice, offering exciting perspectives. Recent CT scanner generations deliver excellent image quality with a high spatial and temporal resolution. Technical developments have resulted in CT scan performed within a few seconds for the entire aorta. Therefore, CT angiography (CTA) is the imaging technology of choice for evaluating acute aortic syndromes, for diagnosis of most aortic pathologies, preoperative planning and postoperative follow-up after endovascular aortic repair. However, radiation dose and the risk of contrast induced nephropathy are major downsides of CTA. Optimisation of scan protocols and contrast media administration can help to reduce the required radiation dose and contrast media. MR angiography (MRA) is an excellent alternative to CTA for both diagnosis of aortic pathologies and postoperative follow-up. The lack of radiation is particularly beneficial for younger patients. A potential side effect of gadolinium contrast agents is nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). In patients with high risk of NSF unenhanced MRA can be performed with both ECG- and breath-gating techniques. Additionally, MRI provides the possibility to visualise and measure both dynamic and flow information.

Objectives: To evaluate hemodynamic changes during aneurysmal dilatation in chronic type B aortic dissections compared to hemodynamic parameters in the healthy aorta with the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD)., Methods: True lumen (TL)/false lumen (FL) dimensional changes, changes in total pressure (TP), and wall shear stress (WSS) were evaluated at follow-up (FU) compared to initial examination (IE) with transient CFD simulation with geometries derived from clinical image data and inflow boundary conditions from magnetic resonance images. The TL/FL pressure gradient between ascending and descending aorta (DAo) and maximum WSS at the site of largest dilatation was compared to values for the healthy aorta., Results: Hemodynamic changes at site of largest FL dilatation included 77% WSS reduction and 69% TP reduction. Compared to the healthy aorta, pressure gradient between ascending and DAo was a factor of 1.4 higher in the TL and a factor of 1.5 in the FL and increased at FU (1.6 and 1.7, respectively). Maximum WSS at the site of largest dilatation was a factor of 3 lower than that for the healthy aorta at IE and decreased by more than a factor of 2 at FU., Conclusions: The FL dilatation at FU favorably reduced TP. In contrast, unfavorable increase in pressure gradient between ascending and DAo was observed with higher values than in the healthy aorta. Maximum WSS was reduced at the site of largest dilation compared to healthy aorta.

Three-dimensional velocity-encoded cine magnetic resonance imaging (3D VEC MRI) allows for calculation of secondary flow parameters that may be used to estimate prognosis of individual cardiovascular diseases. However, its accuracy has not been fully investigated yet. The purpose of this study was to validate aortic flow quantification by 3D VEC MRI in vitro and in vivo using stacked two-dimensional acquisitions. Time-resolved stacks of two-dimensional planes with three-directional velocity-encoding (stacked-2D-3dir-MRI) were acquired in an elastic tube phantom with pulsatile flow simulating aortic flow as well as in 11 healthy volunteers (23 ± 2 years). Previously validated two-dimensional through-plane VEC MRI at six equidistant levels in vitro and three locations in vivo (ascending aorta/aortic arch/descending aorta) was used as reference standard. The percentage difference of the stacked-2D-3dir-MRI measurement to the reference standard was defined as the parameter for accuracy. For in vitro aortic flow, stacked-2D-3dir-MRI underestimated average velocity by -6.8% (p < 0.001), overestimated average area by 13.6% (p < 0.001), and underestimated average flow by -7.4% (p < 0.001). Accuracy was significantly higher in the field of view centre compared to off-centre (p = 0.001). In vivo, stacked-2D-3dir-MRI underestimated average velocity (all three locations p < 0.001) and overestimated average area at all three locations (p = n.s./<0.001/<0.001). Average flow was significantly underestimated in the ascending aorta (p = 0.035), but tended to be overestimated in the aortic arch and descending aorta. In conclusion, stacked-2D-3dir-MRI tends to overestimate average aortic area and to underestimate average aortic velocity, resulting in significant underestimation of average flow in the ascending aorta.

To develop a better understanding of the hemodynamic alterations in the ascending aorta, induced by variation of the cannula outflow position of the left ventricular assist device (LVAD) device based on patient-specific geometries, transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations using the realizable k-ε turbulent model were conducted for two of the most common LVAD outflow geometries. Thoracic aortic flow patterns, pressures, wall shear stresses (WSSs), turbulent dissipation, and energy were quantified in the ascending aorta at the location of the cannula outflow. Streamlines for the lateral geometry showed a large region of disturbed flow surrounding the LVAD outflow with an impingement zone at the contralateral wall exhibiting increased WSSs and pressures. Flow disturbance was reduced for the anterior geometries with clearly reduced pressures and WSSs. Turbulent dissipation was higher for the lateral geometry and turbulent energy was lower. Variation in the position of the cannula outflow clearly affects hemodynamics in the ascending aorta favoring an anterior geometry for a more ordered flow pattern. The new patient-specific approach used in this study for LVAD patients emphasizes the potential use of CFD as a truly translational technique.

Rationale and Objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) velocity-encoded cine (VEC) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to quantify 3D hemodynamic aspects known from computational fluid dynamics and to be used to identify hemodynamic risk factors for complications of endovascular aortic repair. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of an aortic nickel-titanium (nitinol) stent graft on the accuracy of flow measurements by 3D VEC MRI., Materials and Methods: A pump generated pulsatile aortic flow in an elastic tube phantom mimicking the aorta. Stacked two-dimensional three-directional VEC MRI (stacked-2D-3dir-MRI), 3D three-directional VEC MRI (3D-3dir-MRI), and gold-standard 2D through-plane VEC MRI were applied before and after the insertion of an aortic nitinol stent graft. Six equidistant levels were analyzed twice by the same reader. The percentage difference of the measured flow rate from the gold standard was defined as the parameter of accuracy., Results: The overall accuracy of in-stent flow measurements related to the gold standard was -5.4% for stacked-2D-3dir-MRI and -4.1% for 3D-3dir-MRI, demonstrating significant overall underestimation compared to the gold standard (P = .016 and P = .013). However, flow measurements with the stent graft were significantly overestimated by 4.1% using stacked-2D-3dir-MRI (P < .001) and by 5.4% using 3D-3dir-MRI (P = .003) compared to identical measurements without the stent graft. In stacked-2D-3dir-MRI, this positive bias was significantly greater at the proximal and distal ends of the stent graft (P = .025). In 3D-3dir-MRI, measurements along the whole length of the stent graft were affected (P = .006). Intraobserver agreement was excellent, with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.94 for stacked-2D-3dir-MRI (P < .001) and 0.90 for 3D-3dir-MRI (P < .001)., Conclusions: Flow measurements within an aortic nitinol stent graft by 3D VEC MRI are feasible, but stent grafts may cause a significant positive bias., (Copyright © 2012 AUR. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The purpose of this study was to prospectively analyse image quality and radiation dose of body mass index (BMI)-adapted low-radiation and low-iodine dose CTA of the thoracoabdominal aorta in obese and non-obese patients. This prospective, single-centre study included patients scheduled for aortic CTA between November 2017 and August 2020 without symptoms of high-grade heart failure. A BMI-adapted protocol was used: Group A/Group B, BMI < 30/≥ 30 kg/m2, tube potential 80/100 kVp, total iodine dose 14.5/17.4 g. Intraindividual comparison with the institutional clinical routine aortic CTA protocol was performed. The final study cohort comprised 161 patients (mean 71.1 ± 9.4 years, 32 women), thereof 126 patients in Group A (mean BMI 25.4 ± 2.8 kg/m2) and 35 patients in Group B (34.0 ± 3.4 kg/m2). Mean attenuation over five aortoiliac measurement positions for Group A/B was 354.9 ± 78.2/262.1 ± 73.0 HU. Mean effective dose for Group A/B was 3.05 ± 0.46/6.02 ± 1.14 mSv. Intraindividual comparison in 50 patients demonstrated effective dose savings for Group A/B of 34.4 ± 14.5/25.4 ± 14.1% (both p < 0.001), and iodine dose savings for Group A/B of 54/44.8%. Regression analysis showed that female sex and increasing age were independently associated with higher vascular attenuation. In conclusion, BMI-adapted, low-radiation and low-iodine dose CTA of the thoracoabdominal aorta delivers diagnostic image quality in non-obese and obese patients without symptoms of high-grade heart failure, with superior image quality in females and the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]