Flow dynamics and energy efficiency of flow in the left ventricle during myocardial infarction

Vivek Vasudevan1, Adriel Jia Jun Low1, Sarayu Parimal Annamalai2

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.

Insights

Myocardial infarction (MI) reduces heart energy efficiency. A novel non-dimensional number, the Womersley number, effectively quantifies this efficiency and may serve as a clinical biomarker after heart attack.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Cardiovascular disease, including myocardial infarction (MI), is a major global health concern.
  • Understanding cardiac energy efficiency post-MI is crucial for assessing heart function.
  • The heart's ability to supply adequate energy for circulation is compromised after infarction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of myocardial infarction on left ventricular energy efficiency.
  • To determine the influence of heart rate, stroke volume, and chamber size on cardiac energy flow.
  • To identify a reliable non-dimensional parameter for quantifying flow energy efficiency in the heart.

Main Methods:

  • Myocardial infarction was induced in a porcine model.
  • Multiple-slice cine magnetic resonance (MR) images were acquired longitudinally.
  • Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed on MR images to analyze fluid and energy dynamics.

Main Results:

  • Cardiac energy efficiency flow decreased significantly at the acute phase post-MI.
  • Increased heart rate and stroke volume were associated with decreased energy efficiency.
  • The Womersley number (ratio of Reynolds to Strouhal number) effectively characterized flow energy efficiency.

Conclusions:

  • Myocardial infarction impairs the heart's energy efficiency.
  • The Womersley number is a promising non-dimensional parameter for assessing cardiac energy efficiency.
  • This parameter could potentially be computed via ultrasound and used as a clinical biomarker.

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