Blood flow competition after aortic valve bypass: an evaluation using computational fluid dynamics

Aortic valve bypass (AVB) (apico-aortic conduit) remains an effective surgical alternative for patients in whom surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve implantation is not feasible. However, specific complications include thrombus formation, possibly caused by stagnation arising from flow competition between the antegrade and retrograde flow, but this has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to analyse flow characteristics after AVB and to elucidate mechanisms of intra-aortic thrombus using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Flow simulation was performed on data obtained from a 73-year-old postoperative AVB patient. Three-dimensional cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging at 3 Tesla was used to acquire flow data and to set up the simulation. The vascular geometry was reconstructed using computed tomography angiograms. Flow simulations were implemented at various ratios of the flow rate between the ascending aorta and the graft. Results were visualized by streamline and particle tracing.

CFD demonstrated stagnation in the ascending aorta-arch when retrograde flow was dominant, indicating that the risk of thrombus formation exists in the ascending arch in cases with severe aortic stenosis and/or poor left ventricular function. Meanwhile, stagnation was observed in the proximal descending aorta when the antegrade and retrograde flow were equivalent, suggesting that the descending aorta is critical when aortic stenosis is not severe.

Flow stagnation in the aorta which may cause thrombus was observed when retrograde flow was dominant and antegrade/retrograde flows were equivalent. Our results suggest that anticoagulants might be recommended even in patients who receive biological valves.