Scientists have developed a novel tool that may help surgeons plan for a life-saving operation (Fontan surgery), which is performed on babies born with severe congenital heart defects.
The tool has been developed by scientists from University of California, San Diego and Stanford University.
Pediatric Heart Surgery can be Enhanced by Addition of New Tool
A way to simulate blood flow on the computer to optimize surgical designs has been developed by a team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University.
A way to simulate blood flow on the computer to optimize surgical designs has been developed by a team of researchers at the University of California, San Diego and Stanford University.
This leaves their hearts unable to properly circulate blood through their lungs and starves their bodies of oxygen. The lack of oxygen turns their skin blue, a condition sometimes referred to as "blue baby syndrome" for that reason.
The Fontan surgery is one of three surgeries performed immediately after birth to replumb the circulation of children born missing their left ventricles.
Delicate Heart Surgery in Child Planned After MRI Simulation of Blood Flow
MRI is assuming increasing importance in helping doctors decide if the patient is fit to undergo surgery or not.
MRI is assuming increasing importance in helping doctors decide if the patient is fit to undergo surgery or not.
Doctors carefully planning the surgery, starting with images of a baby's heart and then sketching out their plans.
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"Our ultimate goal is to optimize surgeries that are tailored for individual patients so that we don't have to rely on a "one-size fits all" solution," said Marsden.
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The computer can then systematically explore different potential designs using powerful optimization algorithms, similar to those used in the aerospace industry for aircraft design.
It then applies fluid dynamics to simulate the blood flow after reconstruction. This way, says Marsden, surgeons can test their plans and evaluate blood flow patterns before operating.
The study was presented at the 62nd Annual Meeting of the American Physical Society's (APS) Division of Fluid Dynamics.
Source-ANI
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