Dynamic filling characteristics of the left ventricle fulfill hydrodynamic constraints for efficient energy transfer

Abstract

Maximal efficiency of cardiac filling requires that blood entering the left ventricle (LV) decelerate and mix evenly before energy is spent deforming the cardiac apex. This requires a rapid rollup of the flowing blood into vortical structures within the left ventricular body. It has been demonstrated that for pulsating jets, this maximal rollup and the most rapid deceleration will occur when a "Strouhal number" (HR x flow diameter)/(average velocity for the filing period) is between 0.25 and 0.3 under which conditions for rollup will occur maximally at a distance between 2-4 orifice diameters from the inlet.

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