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Updated: Jun 7, 2026

Left Atrial Ligation in the Avian Embryo as a Model for Altered Hemodynamic Loading During Early Vascular Development
Published on: June 16, 2023
Impaired continuity of flow in congenital heart disease with single ventricle physiology
Michael Markl1, Julia Geiger, Brigitte Stiller
1Department of Radiology, Medical Physics, University Hospital Freiburg, Breisacher Str. 60a, 79106 Freiburg, Germany. michael.markl@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Abstract:
We report the comprehensive evaluation of cardiac morphology, valve function, and three-dimensional (3D) blood flow in a pediatric patient with congenital heart disease. 3D visualization of cardiovascular flow paths and quantitative flow analysis based on flow-sensitive 4D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) provided detailed insight into hemodynamic changes associated with valve insufficiency and the complex single ventricle physiology. Despite only moderate atrio-ventricular regurgitation (fraction=28%) a marked redirection of atrial flow and pronounced vortex flow in the entire atrium was observed. Disturbed retrograde flow was even found upstream within the left pulmonary veins (regurgitant fraction=27%) indicating interrupted continuity of flow directed through the single atrium and ventricle. Such findings indicate the potential of flow-sensitive 4D MRI to detect and quantify complex 3D flow alterations.
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