Image-based fluid dynamics analysis of left ventricle outflow tract pressure gradient after deployment transcatheter mitral valve.

The goal of this study was to develop an image-based model to computational investigate blood flow and pressure gradients resulting from left ventricular (LV) wall motion after the implantation of a mitral valve (MV) prosthesis. Two image-based 3D models were reconstructed from multi-slice computed tomography images obtained from patients undergoing transcatheter MV replacement. Navier-Stokes equations were then used to compute the fluid motion. Outflow tract obstruction of the models with MV prosthesis were identified by calculating the difference between LV systolic and aortic pressures. It was found that computed outflow track obstruction compared well with actual obstruction data obtained from two patients. Our study indicates computational modeling can be a valuable tool to investigate the optimal placement of prosthetic valves guided by individualized anatomical data.