Computational Fluid Modeling for Surgical Planning of Single Ventricle Congenital Heart Defects

Introduction: Single ventricle defects (SVD) refer to the collection of congenital heart defects in which one chamber of the heart remains weak or underdeveloped. The most common palliative treatment for SVD physiologies involves a 3-stage surgical intervention, ending with the Fontan procedure. The Fontan reroutes deoxygenated blood from the upper and lower body directly to the lungs, allowing the single functioning ventricle to pump blood for systemic circulation. Though lifesaving, the Fontan physiology produces a non-natural pathway for venous return of the blood to the lungs thus producing a non-physiological blood flow. A successful Fontan flow requires three main components: 1) well-balanced overall and hepatic flow return to lungs to prevent pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVMs) that can lead to poor gas exchange, 2) minimal energy loss, and 3) minimal thrombosis risk1. Complications such as PAVMs and thrombosis post-surgery can result in a Fontan takedown2.