OBJECTIVE: Apicoaortic bypass has double outlets and its graft design is similar to that of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The left ventricular apex to the descending aorta (LV-DsAo) bypass is widely used in apicoaortic bypass. In contrast, the left ventricular apex to the ascending aorta (LV-AsAo) bypass is standard in LVAD surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the graft designs of apicoaortic bypass and their effects on flow distribution and energy loss (EL). METHODS: A simulation study using computational fluid dynamics was performed on the geometry and hemodynamics data obtained from a 30-year-old patient who underwent a LV-DsAo bypass. The ratio of the cardiac output (CO) through the ascending aorta (AsAo) and apicoaortic conduit was set at 50:50, 30:70, and 10:90. Regional blood flow (RBF) and EL were calculated for the different distribution ratios. As an alternative to the LV-DsAo bypass, a virtual LV-AsAo bypass surgery was performed, and each parameter was compared with that of the LV-DsAo bypass. RESULTS: At a distribution ratio of 50:50, the RBF to the head and EL were 16.4% of the total CO and 62.0 mW in the LV-DsAo bypass, and 32.3% and 81.5 mW in the LV-AsAo bypass, respectively. The RBF to the head decreased with the CO through the AsAo in the LV-DsAo bypass, but it was constant in the LV-AsAo bypass. The EL increased inversely with the CO through the AsAo in both graft designs. CONCLUSION: The regional blood flow distribution was different, but the trend of the EL which increased inversely with the CO through the AsAo was similar between the LV-DsAo and LV-AsAo bypasses.
OBJECTIVE: Apicoaortic bypass has double outlets and its graft design is similar to that of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD). The left ventricular apex to the descending aorta (LV-DsAo) bypass is widely used in apicoaortic bypass. In contrast, the left ventricular apex to the ascending aorta (LV-AsAo) bypass is standard in LVAD surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the graft designs of apicoaortic bypass and their effects on flow distribution and energy loss (EL). METHODS: A simulation study using computational fluid dynamics was performed on the geometry and hemodynamics data obtained from a 30-year-old patient who underwent a LV-DsAo bypass. The ratio of the cardiac output (CO) through the ascending aorta (AsAo) and apicoaortic conduit was set at 50:50, 30:70, and 10:90. Regional blood flow (RBF) and EL were calculated for the different distribution ratios. As an alternative to the LV-DsAo bypass, a virtual LV-AsAo bypass surgery was performed, and each parameter was compared with that of the LV-DsAo bypass. RESULTS: At a distribution ratio of 50:50, the RBF to the head and EL were 16.4% of the total CO and 62.0 mW in the LV-DsAo bypass, and 32.3% and 81.5 mW in the LV-AsAo bypass, respectively. The RBF to the head decreased with the CO through the AsAo in the LV-DsAo bypass, but it was constant in the LV-AsAo bypass. The EL increased inversely with the CO through the AsAo in both graft designs. CONCLUSION: The regional blood flow distribution was different, but the trend of the EL which increased inversely with the CO through the AsAo was similar between the LV-DsAo and LV-AsAo bypasses.