Computational simulation of cardiac function and blood flow in the circulatory system under continuous flow left ventricular assist device support during atrial fibrillation

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Abstract

Prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) is high in heart failure patients supported by a continuous flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD); however, the long term effects remain unclear. In this study, a computational model simulating effects of AF on cardiac function and blood flow for heart failure and CF-LVAD support is presented. The computational model describes left and right heart, systemic and pulmonary circulations and cerebral circulation, and utilises patient-derived RR interval series for normal sinus rhythm (SR). Moreover, AF was simulated using patient-derived unimodal and bimodal distributed RR interval series and patient specific left ventricular systolic functions. The cardiovascular system model simulated clinically-observed haemodynamic outcomes under CF-LVAD support during AF, such as reduced right ventricular ejection fraction and elevated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. Moreover, relatively high aortic peak pressures and middle arterial peak flow rates during AF with bimodal RR interval distribution, reduced to similar levels as during normal SR and AF with unimodal RR interval distribution under CF-LVAD support. The simulation results suggest that factors such as distribution of RR intervals and systolic left ventricular function may influence haemodynamic outcome of CF-LVAD support during AF.

Original languageEnglish
Article number876
JournalApplied Sciences (Switzerland)
Volume10
Issue number3
Early online date27 Jan 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 1 Feb 2020

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 by the authors.

Keywords

  • Atrial fibrillation
  • Cardiac function
  • Cerebral blood flow
  • CF-LVAD support
  • Computational simulation
  • normal sinus rhythm

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