Numerical simulation of blood flow in Blalock-Taussig Shunt for hypoplastic left heart syndrome

A Blalock-Taussig Shunt is a surgically created connection inserted between the systemic and pulmonary circulations to control pulmonary blood flow during surgical reconstruction of the univentricular heart. The hemodynamic effect of these shunts in the postoperative setting has not been well characterized because of the difficulties in making accurate measurements. In this study a group of three-dimensional computational models of the shunt have been investigated under steady-state conditions by means of CFD analysis. The model is used to quantify the effects of shunt diameter, curvature, and angle on the pressure-flow relationship of the different shunt structure (straight and curved shunts, respectively). The close correlation between predicted and observed data supports the use of mathematic modeling in the design and assessment of surgical procedures. The potentially damaging effects of a systemic ventriculotomy in the Blalock-Taussig Shunt modification of the Norwood operation have not been analyzed.