The simulation study of the influence of electrical asynchrony on regional mechanics of the ischemic ventricle using electromechanical heart models

Using mathematical modeling method, this paper investigates the interactions between electrical conduction and mechanical function in the ischemia or infarcted ventricle. The influence of electrical asynchrony on regional mechanics of the ventricle is simulated based on electromechanical heart models. Regional deformation, strain and stress are calculated during systole phase. The preliminary results show that considerable disruption of the contraction pattern occurs in the near ischemic zone, the minimum principal strains in local infarction regions were significantly smaller than those in corresponding regions of the normal heart, while the stresses are larger than those of normal tissues. The simulated results are compared with dog experiments and solutions obtained in the literature. This simulation suggests that such coupled heart models can be used to assess the mechanical function of the ventricle with diseases such as myocardial ischemic or infarction.