Influence of the opening mode of the mitral valve orifice on intraventricular hemodynamics.

We analyzed intraventricular blood flow numerically to study the influence of the mode of mitral valve opening on the flow field in the left ventricle. Four different types of opening mode were examined: gradually axisymmetric, gradually anteroposterior (anatomical), gradually bilateral (anti-anatomical), or instantaneous opening and closing. In these models, the shape of the valve orifice was the same when the mitral valve was opened fully. The results demonstrated that the framework of the velocity profile of transmitral flow was built during the phase of mitral valve opening, which was characterized by the mode of valve opening. After the mitral valve opened completely, the transmitral velocity profile developed while maintaining its topological features. Consequently, each mode of mitral valve opening had its own pattern of intraventricular flow, although mitral valve opening accounted for less than 4% of a cardiac cycle. Particle tracking in the resulting flow field revealed that ventricular ejection was more efficient in the anteroposterior and axisymmetric opening modes. These results addressed the importance of the mode of mitral valve opening in intraventricular flow dynamics.