Virtual Treatment Planning for Fontan-Palliated Patients: Prediction of Hepatic Blood Flow Distribution

Background: Formation of pulmonary arteriovenous malformations (PAVM) in Fontan-palliated patients is hypothesized to be caused or at least affected by the distribution of hepatic blood (HFD) toward the left and right pulmonary artery. In patients with PAVM and uneven HFD, surgical or interventional treatment facilitating an even HFD is a promising approach to achieve remodeling of PAVM. However, while the pre-interventional hemodynamics can be assessed via angiography or velocity encoded MRI, prediction of the post-intervention hemodynamics is difficult due to the complex and heterogeneous anatomy of Fontan-palliated patients. Here, computer-based approaches might allow outcome prediction of different treatment strategies for a given patient.