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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Francesco Zonta
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).
Copyright © 2022 Ghodrati-Misek, Schlöglhofer, Gross, Maurer, Zimpfer, Beitzke, Zonta, Moscato, Schima and Aigner. Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common comorbidity in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) patients and has been identified as a risk factor for thromboembolic stroke. Blood stagnation within the left atrial appendage (LAA) is considered a possible major source of thrombosis and clinical studies have shown reduced thromboembolic risk after LAA occlusion (LAAO). Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of LAAO on thrombosis-related parameters using patient-specific simulations. Left ventricular and left atrial geometries of an LVAD patient were obtained from computed tomography and combined with hemodynamic data with either sinus rhythm (SR) or AF generated by a lumped parameter model. In four simulations applying contractile walls, stagnation volume and blood residence times were evaluated with or without AF and with or without LAAO. Reduced atrial contraction in AF resulted in unfavorable flow dynamics within the left atrium. The average atrial velocity was lower for the AF simulation when compared to SR, resulting in a 55% increase in the atrial stagnation volume (from 4.2 to 6.5 cm3). Moreover, blood remained in the LAA for more than 8 cardiac cycles. After LAAO the atrial stagnation decreased from 4.2 to 1.4 cm3 for SR and from 6.5 to 2.3 cm3 for the AF simulation. A significant stagnation volume was found in the LAA for both SR and AF, with larger values occurring with AF. These regions are known as potential sources for thrombus formation and can be diminished by LAAO. This significantly improved the thrombus-related flow parameters and may also lower the risk of thromboembolic events from the appendage.
Author(s): Ghodrati-Misek M, Schloglhofer T, Gross C, Maurer A, Zimpfer D, Beitzke D, Zonta F, Moscato F, Schima H, Aigner P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Frontiers in Physiology
Year: 2022
Volume: 13
Online publication date: 29/09/2022
Acceptance date: 01/09/2022
Date deposited: 07/02/2025
ISSN (electronic): 1664-042X
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
URL: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.1010862
DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.1010862
Data Access Statement: The original contributions presented in the study are included in the article/Supplementary Material, further inquiries can be directed to the corresponding author.
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