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Left Ventricular Fluid Mechanics: The Long Way from Theoretical Models to Clinical Applications

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Abstract

The flow inside the left ventricle is characterized by the formation of vortices that smoothly accompany blood from the mitral inlet to the aortic outlet. Computational fluid dynamics permitted to shed some light on the fundamental processes involved with vortex motion. More recently, patient-specific numerical simulations are becoming an increasingly feasible tool that can be integrated with the developing imaging technologies. The existing computational methods are reviewed in the perspective of their potential role as a novel aid for advanced clinical analysis. The current results obtained by simulation methods either alone or in combination with medical imaging are summarized. Open problems are highlighted and perspective clinical applications are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

We wish to thank J. O. Mangual, J. H. Seo, R. Mittal, J. Eriksson, and T. Ebbers for helping us in the preparation of the manuscript. They kindly prepared original figures based on their previously published results. We are deeply indebted to G. Tonti for his invaluable competence and enthusiastic support about clinical cardiology. We are also indebted to all the colleagues that shared their knowledge, capability, and enthusiasm in exploring the charming, winding world of the cardiac fluid dynamics.

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  1. Dipartimento di Ingegneria e Architettura, University of Trieste, P.le Europa 1, 34127, Trieste, Italy

    Gianni Pedrizzetti

  2. Dipartimento di Ingegneria Civile e Ambientale, University of Firenze, Florence, Italy

    Federico Domenichini

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  1. Gianni Pedrizzetti
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  2. Federico Domenichini
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Correspondence to Gianni Pedrizzetti.

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Associate Editor Umberto Morbiducci oversaw the review of this article.

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Pedrizzetti, G., Domenichini, F. Left Ventricular Fluid Mechanics: The Long Way from Theoretical Models to Clinical Applications. Ann Biomed Eng 43, 26–40 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-014-1101-x

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