A coupled chemo-fluidic computational model for thrombogenesis in infarcted left ventricles.

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Research
• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

• Left ventricular thrombus (LVT) formation post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) increases mortality risk.
• Accurate LVT risk stratification is crucial for managing AMI patients.
• Existing understanding of flow-driven thrombogenesis is largely empirical due to complex interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a coupled chemo-fluidic computational model for investigating flow-mediated thrombogenesis in infarcted left ventricles (LVs).
• To explore the intricate relationship between ventricular hemodynamics and the biochemical processes of clot formation.

Main Methods:

• Solving incompressible Navier-Stokes equations to simulate LV blood flow.
• Coupling fluid dynamics with biochemical modeling of coagulation cascade, platelet activation, and fibrinogen polymerization.
• Utilizing a computational approach to analyze thrombogenesis in patient-specific infarcted LV models.

Main Results:

• The model successfully integrates fluid dynamics with biochemical pathways of thrombogenesis.
• It allows for the examination of how specific ventricular flow patterns influence thrombus formation.
• Demonstrates the potential for in-depth analysis of thrombogenesis in diverse pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

• The developed chemo-fluidic model provides a novel framework for studying LVT formation.
• This approach moves beyond empirical understanding, offering mechanistic insights into flow-mediated thrombogenesis.
• Facilitates advanced research into thrombotic events in infarcted hearts, potentially improving patient outcomes.