Personalised simulation of haemodynamic response to the Valsalva manoeuvre

The Valsalva manoeuvre is a simple and low-risk procedure used for assessing the autonomic nervous system or for diagnosing several heart conditions. The analysis of the cardiovascular alterations occurring during and after the manoeuvre due to the changes of the intrathoracic pressure can be facilitated using mathematical modelling. In this paper we present a method of employing a mathematical model to simulate the haemodynamic response to the Valsalva manoeuvre in a given indi- vidual. In particular, we present a method of adapting our own multi- compartmental mathematical model of cardiovascular system (based on standard physiological data from the literature) to reflect the steady state of the cardiovascular system in the given subject before the manoeuvre is started. The structure of our cardiovascular model is also briefly dis- cussed providing some particulars on the used modelling techniques.