COMPUTER-SIMULATIONS OF VENTRICULAR-FUNCTION - SURGICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION

Computer simulation technique has been developed to model the complex heterogeneous function of the left ventricle. The left ventricle was m odeled as a series of twenty-five consecutive cylindrical shells in an elliptical configuration and then these were specifically and regiona lly modified. These techniques allowed assessment of many salient feat ures of clinical situations, such as (1) acute myocardial infarction w ith secondary loss of apical or anterior wall function, then (2) chron ic changes with ventricular aneurysmal formation, and (3) secondary re sidual myocardial compensatory hypertrophy. These pathological deforma tions were then surgically operated by computer simulation to compare the reconstruction techniques of (1) direct apposition or primary clos ure versus (2) synthetic patch repair of the resected myocardium for t hese clinical conditions. Computer simulation allowed a better underst anding of the available data in relationship to surgical decision for ventricular reconstruction to achieve optimal function in each of thes e specific settings. The current computer simulation models were used to demonstrate the complex, dynamic function of the heterogeneous natu re of the left ventricle and to allow further evaluations of various p otential surgical reparative procedures. These models allow prediction for the best and worst potential outcome of function after surgical r econstruction.