INTRAVENTRICULAR PRESSURE-GRADIENTS AND THE ROLE OF PRESSURE WAVE-PROPAGATION

Intraventricular pressure gradients during relaxation and early fillin g in the left ventricle (LV) have been described in a canine model, Ho wever, underlying mechanisms responsible for these gradients are not c ompletely elucidated, Therefore, a 1D numerical model is developed des cribing LV intracavitary pressure gradients during filling along a LV base-apex axis. Our results indicate that the observed intraventricula r pressure gradients during filling are the consequence of a complex i nteraction between pressure waves travelling in the LV, and LV geometr y, relaxation and compliance.