Vortex Formation in the Cardiovascular System will recapitulate the current knowledge about the vortex formation in the cardiovascular system, from mechanics to cardiology. This can facilitate the interaction between basic scientists and clinicians on the topic of the circulatory system. The book begins with a synopsis of the fundamentals aspects of fluid mechanics to give the reader the essential background to address the proceeding chapters. Then the fundamental elements of vortex dynamics will be discussed, explaining the conditions for their formation and the rules governing their dynamics. The main equations are accompanied by mathematical models. Cardiovascular vortex formation is first analyzed in physiological, healthy conditions in the heart chambers and in the large arterial vessels. The analysis is initially presented with an intuitive appeal grounded on the physical phenomena and a focus on its clinical significance.In the proceeding chapters, the knowledge gained from either clinical or basic science literature will be discussed. The corresponding mathematical elements will finally be presented to ensure the adequate diligence. The proceeding chapters ensue to the analysis of pathological conditions, when the reader may have developed the ability to recognize normal from abnormal vortex formation phenomenon. Pathological vortex formation represents vortices that develop at sites where normally laminar flow should exist, e.g. stenosis and aneurisms. This analysis naturally leads to the interaction of vortices due to the surgical procedures with respect to prediction of changes in vortex formation. The existing techniques, from medical imaging to numerical simulations, to explore vortex flows in the cardiovascular systems will also be described. The presentations are accompanied by the mathematical definitions can that be understandable for reader without the advanced mathematical background, while an interested reader with more advanced knowledge in mathematics can be referred to references for further quantitative analyses. The book pursues the objective to transfer the fundamental vortex formation phenomena with application to the cardiovascular system to the reader. This book will be a valuable support for physicians in the evaluation of vortex influence on diagnosis and therapeutic choices. At the same time, the book will provide the rigorous information for research scientists, either from medicine and mechanics, working on the cardiovascular circulation incurring with the physics of vortex dynamics.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) including heart diseases, peripheral vascular disease and heart failure, account for one-third of deaths throughout the world. CVD risk factors include systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and diabetic status. Clinical trials have demonstrated that when modifiable risk factors are treated and corrected, the chances of CVD occurring can be reduced. This illustrates the importance of this book's elaborate coverage of cardiovascular physiology by the application of mathematical and computational methods.This book has literally transformed Cardiovascular Physiology into a STEM discipline, involving (i) quantitative formulations of heart anatomy and physiology, (ii) technologies for imaging the heart and blood vessels, (iii) coronary stenosis hemodynamics measure by means of fractional flow reserve and intervention by grafting and stenting, (iv) fluid mechanics and computational analysis of blood flow in the heart, aorta and coronary arteries, and (v) design of heart valves, percutaneous valve stents, and ventricular assist devices.So how is this mathematically and computationally configured landscape going to impact cardiology and even cardiac surgery? We are now entering a new era of mathematical formulations of anatomy and physiology, leading to technological formulations of medical and surgical procedures towards more precise medicine and surgery. This will entail reformatting of (i) the medical MD curriculum and courses, so as to educate and train a new generation of physicians who are conversant with medical technologies for applying into clinical care, as well as (ii) structuring of MD-PhD (Computational Medicine and Surgery) Program, to train competent medical and surgical specialists in precision medical care and patient-specific surgical care.This book provides a gateway for this new emerging scenario of (i) science and engineering based medical educational curriculum, and (ii) technologically oriented medical and surgical procedures. As such, this book can be usefully employed as a textbook for courses in (i) cardiovascular physiology in both the schools of engineering and medicine of universities, as well as (ii) cardiovascular engineering in biomedical engineering departments worldwide.