Es. Yee et al., COMPUTER-SIMULATIONS OF VENTRICULAR-FUNCTION - SURGICAL IMPLICATIONS FOR REPAIR AND RECONSTRUCTION, Vascular surgery, 27(4), 1993, pp. 274-281
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.