Real-time cardiac phase contrast MRI blood flow including Valsalva and Mueller maneuver. Initial experiences

Jan M Sohns,Dirk Voit,Christina Schulte,Shuo Zhang,Wieland Staab,Johannes T Kowallick,Joachim Lotz,Martin Uecker,Arun Joseph,Klaus-Dietmar Merboldt,Christina Unterberg-Buchwald,Jens Frahm,Michael Steinmetz

doi:10.1186/1532-429x-15-s1-e17

Abstract

Background A high resolution real-time phase-contrast MRI flow technique was used to measure flow dynamics in the ascending aorta as well as superior vena cava. MRI technique based on undersampled radial fast low-angle shot acquisitions with phase-sensitive image reconstructions by regularized nonlinear inversion. Normal flow values as well as flow measurements during physiologic stress tests like Valsalva (increased intrathoracic pressure) and Mueller (decreased intrathoracic pressure, reverse of Valsalva maneuver) were obtained in healthy volunteers.

Highlights

A high resolution real-time phase-contrast MRI flow technique was used to measure flow dynamics in the ascending aorta as well as superior vena cava
Blood flow was measured in the ascending aorta and superior vena cava using a single scan plane perpendicular to the ascending aorta at the level of the right pulmonary artery
We observed a decrease of blood-flow during Valsalva and Mueller maneuver in the ascending aorta

Summary

Introduction

A high resolution real-time phase-contrast MRI flow technique was used to measure flow dynamics in the ascending aorta as well as superior vena cava. MRI technique based on undersampled radial fast low-angle shot acquisitions with phase-sensitive image reconstructions by regularized nonlinear inversion. Normal flow values as well as flow measurements during physiologic stress tests like Valsalva (increased intrathoracic pressure) and Mueller (decreased intrathoracic pressure, reverse of Valsalva maneuver) were obtained in healthy volunteers

Methods

Results

Conclusion