Julia Geiger1,
Raoul Arnold2, Alex Frydrychowicz3, Brigitte Stiller2,
Mathias Langer1, Michael Markl1
1Diagnostic Radiology and Medical
Physics, University Hospital Freiburg, Freiburg, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany;
2Pediatric Cardiology, University Hospital Freiburg; 3Diagnostic
Radiology , University of Wisconsin
The
aim of this study was to assess the vessel morphology and altered
hemodynamics in patients with operated congenital heart disease by flow
sensitive whole heart 4D MRI. 15 patients with heterogeneous heart defects
were examined on 1.5 or 3 T MRI scanners using a gradient echo sequence with
interleaved 3-directional velocity encoding. Postoperative altered
hemodynamics including flow acceleration or vortex formation could be
visualized and characterized. Therefore, we take the method to be a promising
modality for acquisition of comprehensive flow behavior and better
understanding of extraordinary flow profiles in congenital heart disease.