title: Left ventricular flow analysis: recent advances in numerical methods and applications in cardiac ultrasound.
abstract: The left ventricle (LV) pumps oxygenated blood from the lungs to the rest of the body through systemic circulation. The efficiency of such a pumping function is dependent on blood flow within the LV chamber. It is therefore crucial to accurately characterize LV hemodynamics. Improved understanding of LV hemodynamics is expected to provide important clinical diagnostic and prognostic information. We review the recent advances in numerical and experimental methods for characterizing LV flows and focus on analysis of intraventricular flow fields by echocardiographic particle image velocimetry (echo-PIV), due to its potential for broad and practical utility. Future research directions to advance patient-specific LV simulations include development of methods capable of resolving heart valves, higher temporal resolution, automated generation of three-dimensional (3D) geometry, and incorporating actual flow measurements into the numerical solution of the 3D cardiovascular fluid dynamics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA.
authors.forename: Iman
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Borazjani
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Westerdale
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.forename: Prathish K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Rajaraman
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Heys
authors.forename: Marek
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Belohlavek
mesh_terms: D019295:Computational Biology; D003326:Coronary Circulation; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D012212:Rheology / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left