Work

Lagrangian analysis of turbulent blood flow in the human left heart

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: We present a Lagrangian analysis of turbulent blood flow in the human left heart using high-fidelity simulations based on a patient-specific anatomical model. Leveraging a fully coupled fluid-structure-electrophysiology interaction framework, we track the motion of Lagrangian (passive) tracers to investigate the multiscale statistical properties of velocity fluctuations over more than 4 orders of magnitude. Our analysis reveals strong Lagrangian intermittency throughout the left heart, reflecting the complex and unsteady nature of cardiovascular flow. The present work underscores the sensitivity of Lagrangian statistics to physiological parameters and highlights their potential for improving the understanding of pathological flow conditions in cardiovascular systems. Such Lagrangian tool provides a statistical foundation for modeling shear-induced damage in red blood cells (hemolysis), with implications for the evaluation of prosthetic valves and blood-contacting medical devices.

Source: Physical Review Fluids

DOI: 10.1103/d56r-y1lm

Authors: Fabio Guglietta, Martino Andrea Scarpolini, Francesco Viola, Luca Biferale

Institutions: University of Rome Tor Vergata, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Roma Tor Vergata, Gran Sasso Science Institute, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Istituto Nazionale di Fisica Nucleare, Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso

Language: English

Topic: Cardiac Valve Diseases and Treatments

Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Università degli Studi di Roma Tor Vergata, Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca, European Research Council, Horizon 2020

Awards: G6684745083, G6968754595, G7850708133, G7860113109