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Review
. 2024 Dec 19;24(1):716.
doi: 10.1186/s12872-024-04371-3.

Intracardiac fluid dynamic analysis: available techniques and novel clinical applications

Isabella Leo  1 , Angelica Cersosimo  1 , Jessica Ielapi  1 , Jolanda Sabatino  1 , Federico Sicilia  1 , Antonio Strangio  1 , Stefano Figliozzi  2   3   4 , Daniele Torella  1 , Salvatore De Rosa  5
Affiliations
Review

Intracardiac fluid dynamic analysis: available techniques and novel clinical applications

Isabella Leo et al. BMC Cardiovasc Disord. .

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the potential use of intracardiac fluid dynamic analysis to better understand cardiac mechanics and identify novel imaging biomarkers of cardiovascular disease. Abnormalities of vortex formation and shape may in fact play a critical role in cardiac function, affecting both efficiency and myocardial workload. Recent advances in imaging technologies have significantly improved our ability to analyze these dynamic flow patterns in vivo, offering new insights into both normal and pathological cardiac conditions. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the available imaging techniques for intracardiac fluid dynamics analysis, highlighting their strengths and limitations. By synthesizing the current knowledge in this evolving field, the paper aims to underscore the importance of advanced fluid dynamic analysis in contemporary cardiology and to identify future directions for research and clinical practice.

Keywords: 4d Flow; Cardiac mechanics; Fluid dynamics; Phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging; Vortex.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Vortex formation in the left ventricle. Two main vortices are identifiable in the left ventricle, one located at the anterior MV leaflet level and characterized by clockwise rotation, and another one distal to the posterior MV leaflet with counterclockwise rotation
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Intracardiac flow analysis using vector flow mapping. Fluid dynamic evaluation using the HyperDoppler Software in a patient with interventricular septal defect (on the left). The software allows both qualitative (polar and vector maps) and quantitative assessment of main vortex parameters. On the right, evaluation of the aortic arch using the same technique
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Intracardiac flow analysis using blood speckle tracking echocardiography. Fluid dynamic analysis using blood speckle tracking of the aortic arch (left) and the left ventricle (right) in a healthy child
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Potential clinical indications of fluid dynamic analysis
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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