COMPUTATIONAL SIMULATIONS OF MITRAL REGURGITATION QUANTIFICATION USING THE FLOW CONVERGENCE METHOD - COMPARISON OF HEMISPHERIC AND HEMIELLIPTIC FORMULAS

Mitral regurgitation results from the incomplete closure of the mitral valve, and the noninvasive diagnosis of this disease remains an impor tant clinical goal. In this study, steady flow computer simulations we re used to evaluate flow convergence method for flow rate estimation. The hemispheric and hemielliptic formulae were compared for accuracy i n the presence of complicating factors such as ventricular confinement , orifice shape, and aortic outflow. Results showed that in the absenc e of aortic outflow and ventricular confinement, there was a plateau z one where the hemispheric formula approximated the true flow rate, ind ependent of orifice shape. However, in the presence of complicating fa ctors such as aortic outflow and ventricular confinement, there was no clear zone where the hemispheric formula could be applied. The hemiel liptic formula, however, worked in all cases, regardless of chamber si ze or magnitude of aortic outflow. Therefore, application of the hemie lliptic formula should be considered in future clinical studies.