Cardiac Fluid Dynamics in Prolapsed and Repaired Mitral Valve

The Influence of Mitral Valve Asymmetry for an Improved Choice of Valve Repair or Replacement

“…In this regard, this study has been extensively validated with an FSI model [15,16] and subsequently with a previous study [10] showing the homogeneity of the ideal MV with the real one and its movement. In the study by [20], it is shown how the presence of the chordae tendineae is not influential in the numerical simulation; the models with and without the cords showed similar results, and the essential thing is that the movement is faithfully reproduced, which was amply demonstrated for our cases [10,15,[21][22][23][24][25][26]. A systematic analysis of the properties and limitations of such valvular modeling for flow simulation is reported in a dedicated methodological study [15].…”

“…In Figure 2c we show the formation and direction of the vortex ring in case with = 0.6. Compared with an ideal healthy case [10,15], the vortex is inclined and directed towards the left wall of the LV similarly to various pathological valve cases [10,21,23]. Instead, in Figure 2d, the flow is inverted ( = −0.6), the vortex breaks very early, and the vorticity increases due to the generation of turbulence inside the LV.…”

“…To reach this objective, the model includes a number of simplifications that correspond to a series of limitations that are described in a previous methodological article [15]. However, this model is already used and validated in the clinical setting for the evaluation of various physiological and pathological conditions [10,15,[21][22][23]50]. Our results provide an indication before surgery, which can make it clearer to surgeons which type of valve asymmetry to use for a correct valve repair/replacement and above all what to expect in the case of a different solution.…”