Document Type
Article
Publication Date
3-31-2025
Abstract
Abstract: Single-ventricle congenital heart defects require complex surgical strategies, with computation fluid dynamics (CFD) playing a growing role in optimizing cavopulmonary connections. This scoping review examines CFD-derived insights into power loss, hepatic flow distribution (HFD), and wall shear stress (WSS) across different Fontan geometries.
Methods: A search of available peer-reviewed literature (1995-2024) identified studies using CFD models to analyze hemodynamic performance in second and third-stage single-ventricle repairs. Studies were categorized based on surgical stage, anatomical variations, modeling assumptions, and key outcomes such as power loss, HFD, and WSS.
Results: Of 30 included studies, 28 analyzed power loss, 24 evaluated HFD, and 6 assessed WSS. CFD simulations consistently demonstrated that maintaining pulmonary artery cross-sectional area improves energy efficiency, while Y-grafts promote balanced HFD but may increase WSS. Offset junctions minimized flow vortexing but often compromised HFD. Most studies employed rigid-wall and steady-state assumptions, limiting the assessment of pulsatile flow effects but providing practical insights for surgical decision-making.
Conclusions: CFD provides valuable predictive insights into Fontan hemodynamic performance, informing surgical modifications that balance power loss, flow distribution, and shear stress. However, limitations in modeling assumptions, patient-specific anatomy, and surgical feasibility restrict direct clinical translation. Further studies integrating patient-specific boundary conditions, exercise modeling, and long-term follow-up will enhance the clinical applicability of CFD-driven surgical planning.
Recommended Citation
Osuch, Olivia K., "Practices in Single Ventricle Repairs: Insights from Computational Fluid Dynamics on Cavopulmonary Connections – A Scoping Review" (2025). Student Works. 2.
https://digitalcollections.lipscomb.edu/cper_student/2