A PC Based Model to Simulate Artero-Ventricular Interaction and the Effect of Mechanical Circulatory and Ventilatory Support

A software package for the simulation of the cardiovascular system and of artero-ventricular interaction has been developed. It includes the reproduction of the effects of mechanical circulatory like Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD), Biventricular Assist Device (BVAD), Intra-aortic Balloon Pump (IABP) and ventilatory support systems. Lumped parameters models were used to reproduce the circulatory phenomena in terms of pressure and volume relationships. Variable elastance models reproduce the Starling's law of the heart, for each ventricle. LVAD and BVAD are inserted with atrial-arterial cannulation and can be synchronised with the onset of the natural ventricle systole. IABP model, inserted in the arterial tree, is considered as a flow source. Controlling the level of thoracic pressure (Pt) performs the simulation of mechanical ventilation. The examples of simulations are presented in the paper as the effects of LVAD and mechanical ventilatory support on circulatory system, in terms of hemodynamic parameters changes