Extended 3D approach for quantification of abnormal ascending aortic flow.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Flow Dynamics

Background:

• Flow displacement quantifies eccentric flow, a risk factor for ascending aortic aneurysms.
• Current methods analyze flow displacement at only one location.
• Aortic and aortic valve pathologies can alter blood flow dynamics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To extend flow displacement analysis to three dimensions (3D).
• To evaluate 3D flow displacement in patients with aortic and aortic valve pathologies.
• To compare 2D and 3D flow displacement analyses.

Main Methods:

• 4D Flow MRI was used in 43 individuals across 6 groups.
• Groups included healthy controls and patients with various tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) and bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) conditions.
• Flow displacement was calculated in multiple planes; 2D and 3D analyses were compared.

Main Results:

• A strong correlation (r>0.8) was found between 2D and 3D flow displacement.
• Healthy controls exhibited significantly lower flow displacement values.
• The highest flow displacement occurred in patients with stenotic TAV and aortic dilation.
• 2D analysis underestimated maximum flow displacement by over 20% in 36% of patients.

Conclusions:

• 3D flow displacement analysis offers a more comprehensive evaluation of ascending aorta systolic flow.
• This 3D approach better differentiates patient subgroups.
• Maximum flow displacement is more reliably assessed using 3D analysis.