Edouard Michel Semaan1,
Michael Markl1, Bradley D. Allen1, Alex Baker1,
Chris Malaisrie2, Patrick McCarthy3, James C. Carr4,
Jeremy D. Collins4
1Radiology
Department, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago,
IL, United States; 2Surgery Department, Feinberg School of
Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, United States; 3Surgery-Cardiac
Surgery Department, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University,
Chicago, IL, United States; 4Radiology Department, Northwestern
University, Chicago, IL, United States
This study evaluates the impact of aortic root repair on aortic hemodynamic flow in subjects with bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve morphology without stenosis or significant insufficiency using 4D flow MRI. Aortic root repair results in a more homogeneous flow profile, reduced helical flow patterns, and resolution of forward flow jets impacting the aortic wall compared to control subjects matched with pre-surgical thoracic aortic aneurysm size, age, and aortic valve morphology. These changes occur at the expense of increased peak systolic velocities and regurgitation; the long-term impact of these changes on vascular physiology is unknown.