Open AccessMock Circulatory System of the Fontan Circulation to Study Respiration Effects on Venous Flow Behavior
Author(s) -
Marija Vukicevic,
John A. Chiulli,
Timothy Conover,
Giancarlo Pennati,
Tain Yen Hsia,
Richard Figliola
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
asaio journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.961
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1538-943X
pISSN - 1058-2916
DOI - 10.1097/mat.0b013e318288a2ab
Subject(s) - expiration , venous return curve , circulatory system , fontan procedure , respiration , cardiology , medicine , central venous pressure , mean circulatory filling pressure , cardiac output , breathing , hemodynamics , anesthesia , respiratory system , heart rate , anatomy , blood pressure , heart disease
We describe an in vitro model of the Fontan circulation with respiration to study subdiaphragmatic venous flow behavior. The venous and arterial connections of a total cavopulmonary connection (TCPC) test section were coupled with a physical lumped parameter (LP) model of the circulation. Intrathoracic and subdiaphragmatic pressure changes associated with normal breathing were applied. This system was tuned for two patients (5 years, 0.67 m2; 10 years, 1.2 m2) to physiological values. System function was verified by comparison to the analytical model on which it was based and by consistency with published clinical measurements. Overall, subdiaphragmatic venous flow was influenced by respiration. Flow within the arteries and veins increased during inspiration but decreased during expiration, with retrograde flow in the inferior venous territories. System pressures and flows showed close agreement with the analytical LP model (p < 0.05). The ratio of the flow rates occurring during inspiration to expiration were within the clinical range of values reported elsewhere. The approach used to set up and control the model was effective and provided reasonable comparisons with clinical data.