Vortex formation time is not an index of ventricular function

J Cardiovasc Transl Res. 2015 Feb;8(1):54-8. doi: 10.1007/s12265-015-9607-7. Epub 2015 Jan 22.

Abstract

The diastolic intraventricular ring vortex formation and pinch-off process may provide clinically useful insights into diastolic function in health and disease. The vortex ring formation time (FT) concept, based on hydrodynamic experiments dealing with unconfined (large tank) flow, has attracted considerable attention and popularity. Dynamic conditions evolving within the very confined space of a filling, expansible ventricular chamber with relaxing and rebounding, and viscoelastic muscular boundaries diverge from unconfined (large tank) flow and encompass rebounding walls' suction and myocardial relaxation. Indeed, clinical/physiological findings seeking validation in vivo failed to support the notion that FT is an index of normal/abnormal diastolic ventricular function. Therefore, FT as originally proposed cannot and should not be utilized as such an index. Evidently, physiologically accurate models accounting for coupled hydrodynamic and (patho)physiological myocardial wall interactions with the intraventricular flow are still needed to enhance our understanding and yield diastolic function indices useful and reliable in the clinical setting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Diastole
  • Elasticity
  • Humans
  • Hydrodynamics
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Time Factors
  • Ventricular Dysfunction / diagnosis
  • Ventricular Dysfunction / physiopathology*
  • Ventricular Function*
  • Viscosity