Left Ventricular Assist Device Inflow Cannula Angle and Thrombosis Risk

Abstract

Angulation of the inflow cannula >7° from the apical axis (axis connecting mitral valve and ventricular apex) leads to markedly unfavorable hemodynamics as determined by computational fluid dynamics. Computational hemodynamic simulations incorporating Lagrangian and Eulerian metrics are a powerful tool for studying optimization of LVAD implantation strategies, with the long-term potential of improving outcomes.