Closed-loop CFD Model of the Self-Powered Fontan Circulation for the Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Authors

Nathalie E. Quintero, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Eduardo Divo, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical UniversityFollow
Alain Kassab, University of Central Florida
William DeCampli, University of Central Florida and The Heart Center, Arnold Palmer Hospital for ChildrenFollow

Publisher

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University

Abstract

The Fontan operation is the definitive step in creating a compatible circulation in SV patients. This type of procedure may fail due to the known decrease survival rate, and the inability of the systemic venous blood to pass through the lungs, which leads to further complications in the patient. To improve the Fontan circulation an injection jet shunt (IJS) from the single ventricle to the Fontan pulmonary arteries, is incorporated into the closed-loop circulation model to determine if the energy and momentum will effectively be transferred to the pulmonary artery circulation. Using ANSYS Fluent two models, a baseline and an IJS model, were compared in a steady state solution to determine the effectiveness of the IJS velocity outflow and energy transfer. After the analysis was performed it was determined that a vacuum pressure is created at the exit of the IJS, and that indeed the energy and momentum transfer to the pulmonary arteries, improves the Fontan circulation.

Recommended Citation

Quintero, Nathalie E.; Divo, Eduardo; Kassab, Alain; and DeCampli, William (2016) "Closed-loop CFD Model of the Self-Powered Fontan Circulation for the Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome," McNair Scholars Research Journal: Vol. 3 , Article 4.
Available at: https://commons.erau.edu/mcnair/vol3/iss1/4