Phase contrast 4D flow in bicuspid aortic valves in a porcine model

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Background Bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are associated with aneurysms of the ascending aorta (AAA). It is unclear whether these aneurysms are caused by tissue alterations of the aortic wall or by alterations of blood flow in the ascending aorta due to the bicuspid valve morphology. In this study we analyzed the phase contrast 4D flow characteristics in normal tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) in a porcine model and compared them to the 4D flow patterns after different types of surgical bicuspidalization. Methods Phase contrast 4D flow measurements of the thoracic aorta were performed in 3 mongrel swine (56 to 73 kg) using a spoiled gradient-echo based sequence prototype on a 3 Tesla MRI system (Verio, Siemens Healthcare, Erlangen, Germany) in supine position with a 16-channel cardiac phase-array coil. After the first MRI scan surgical bicuspidalizatio no f the aortic valve was performed with a fusion of the right and left-coronary (RL) leaflet in swine 1 and fusion of the right and the non-coronary (R-N) leaflet in swine 2. In swine 3 a congenital BAV of the R-L type was found intraoperatively. After surgery swine 1 an d2u nderwent as econd 4D flow scan. The 4D scans were analyzed for helical and vortical flow in the entire thoracic aorta and for eccentric flow at the level of the sinotubular junction. Results Analysis of preoperative 4D flow characteristics in swine 1 and 2 revealed a predominantly laminar flow with high-velocity systolic streamlines parallel to the aortic wall and only discrete-right handed flow in the distal aortic arch and the descending aorta without helicicity (Fig. 1). No vortices and no eccentric flow at the level of the sinotubular junction could be detected. Swine 3 (congenital BAV) demonstrated a marked right-handed helical flow in peak systole. Postoperative analysis demonstrated substantial changes: In swine 1 (R-L) a right-handed helical flow was