Numerical Study on Diastolic Left Ventricular Hemodynamics Using Motion Models of Mitral Valve With/Without Edge-to-Edge Repair

Edge-to-edge repair (ETER) is a newly developed technique to correct such mitral valve (MV) malfunctions as regurgitation [1,2]. This technique changes MV geometric configuration by suturing the anterior and posterior leaflets at central or commissural edges, and consequently alters MV and left ventricle (LV) dynamics. For instance, stress in the MV elevated due to ETER may cause leaflets tearing near suture. Little has been known about shear stress on the MV and LV walls under MV ETER conditions, where high shear stress might cause platelet activation or hemolysis [3]. When ETER is done at the central leaflet edges, it generates two MV orifices, leads to two deflected jets, and completely changes vortices in the LV. ETER also reduces the orifice area, and increases jet velocity and transmitral pressure [1,2,4]. Flow patterns in the LV and ETER effects on the LV and MV functions have not been understood well.