Flow fields in both systolic and diastolic three-dimensional left ventricular flows determined from computational fluid dynamics

This study extends an earlier developed computational scheme by including diastole, aside from systole, in which realistic fully 3-D left ventricle contraction and expansion flow can be studied using computational fluid dynamics. It is found that at least three computed cardiac cycles are necessary to obtain consistent results, and that there is greater vortex formation in the diastolic phase. This could be responsible for some of the turbulence that has been experimentally measured in canine aortas.