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Novel 4D Flow MRI to Support Surgery in Young Adults with Aortic Valve Disease

Chief Investigator

Institution

Dates

Funding Stream

Amount

Dr Chiara Bucciarelli-Ducci & Dr Estefania de Garate University of Bristol

Nov 2017 to Oct 2019

A&B Autumn 2016

£8,160

 

Summary

The best cardiac operation to correct an aortic valve problem in young adults is not clarified.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is an advanced, radiation-free imaging technique that can assess the cardiovascular system in details. Standard MRI images are routinely used to guide patients' surgical procedures and assess the results of the operations.

Recently, there has been a dramatic technological improvement in the type of images that can be acquired with MRI with the introduction of the 4D technique (3D anatomy + function of time).

Promising research data from other groups have shown that this novel sequence can visualise the blood stream and flow vortices in the cardiac structures in a way that is unprecedented.

The aim of this proposal is to offer young adults with aortic valve disease the opportunity to be imaged with this novel technology to investigate the anatomy of the blood vortices generated in different conditions and its implication in the haemodynamics of the diseased aortic valve and adjacent segments of the vessel aorta before and after a cardiac operation.

The clinical role of these novel images have not been investigated yet, as this piece of software is currently not commercially available. However, Dr Bucciarelli-Ducci has recently secured this sequence as part of a research agreement with Siemens to develop her experience and investigate the clinical use of this novel sequence in patients with valvular heart disease. Bristol is one of the very few centres in the UK to have this sequence been made available to them.