Simulation of Fluid-Structure Interaction in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Circulatory Support Systems

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a vital mechanical circulatory support modality capable of restoring perfusion for the patient in circulatory failure. Despite increasing adoption of ECMO, there is incomplete understanding of its effects on systemic hemodynamics and how the vasculature responds to varying levels of continuous retrograde perfusion. To gain further insight into the complex ECMO:failing heart circulation, computational fluid dynamics simulations focused on perfusion distribution and hemodynamic flow patterns were conducted using a patient-derived aorta geometry. Three case scenarios were simulated: (1) healthy control; (2) 90% ECMO-derived perfusion to model profound heart failure; and, (3) 50% ECMO-derived perfusion to model the recovering heart. Fluid-structure interface simulations were performed to quantify systemic pressure and vascular deformation throughout the aorta over the cardiac cycle. ECMO support alters pressure distribution while decreasing shear stress. Insights derived from computational modeling may lead to better understanding of ECMO support and improved patient outcomes.