Failing Fontan assist

Target Flow-Pressure Operating Range for Designing a Failing Fontan Cavopulmonary Support Device

Author(s)3: Masoud Farahmand, Minoo N. Kavarana, Phillip M. Trusty, Ethan O. Kung
Target Flow-Pressure Operating Range for Designing a Failing Fontan Cavopulmonary Support Device 170 177 IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering (TBME)
The Fontan procedure has enabled the survival of single ventricle patients into adulthood and reduced early morbidity. However, the lack of a sub-pulmonary ventricle to pump blood flow forward into the lungs have led to serious late complications, including a failing circulation. Using computational modeling of hemodynamics, this study aims to elucidate the hydraulic operating regions to be targeted for designing a cavopulmonary pump that can support Fontan patients with failing circulations. These operating regions also provide criteria for evaluating the off-label use of commercially available blood pumps for Fontan cavopulmonary support. read more