Impact of Oxygen As a Vasodilator on Respiration-Related Gontan Hemodynamics Assessed by Real-Time Phase-Velocity MRI

Background Inhalative administration of oxygen increases pulmonary blood flow by vasodilation. Currently, flow rate quantification using conventional two-dimensional phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) is not capable to study short-term effects due to averaging of flow information. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of oxygen supply on respiration-related flow rate variations by non-electrocardiographic triggered real-time phase-contrast MRI (PC-MRI) in patients after total cavo-pulmonary connection (Fontan).