The Influence of Mitral Valve Asymmetry for an Improved Choice of Valve Repair or Replacement

The study of valve asymmetry represents an important avenue for modern cardiac surgery. The correct choice of leaflet reconstruction may indicate a new path in the quality and long-term survival of patients. A systematic investigation was performed with a total of 25 numerical simulations using a healthy ventricle and an ideal valve with varying degrees of valve asymmetry. An overall assessment is made in terms of vorticity, kinetic energy, dissipated energy, and hemodynamic forces. The results indicate that the optimal asymmetry to consider for a valve repair or prosthetic design is between 0.2 and 0.4 with an optimal point of about 0.3. Out of this range, the heart is subjected to an excessive workload, which can only worsen the patient's state of health.

Automated summary

The study reveals the importance of valve asymmetry in modern cardiac surgery, as the correct choice of leaflet reconstruction can greatly impact patient's long-term survival. By conducting numerical simulations on a healthy ventricle and an ideal valve with varying degrees of valve asymmetry, the research identifies the optimal asymmetry range for valve repair or prosthetic design to be between 0.2 and 0.4, with an optimal point of about 0.3. Beyond this range, the heart is subjected to excessive workload, which can worsen the patient's health condition.