scholarly journals Blood flow and coherent vortices in the normal and aneurysmatic aortas: a fluid dynamical approach to intra-luminal thrombus formation

2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (63) ◽  
pp. 1449-1461 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacopo Biasetti ◽  
Fazle Hussain ◽  
T. Christian Gasser

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are frequently characterized by the development of an intra-luminal thrombus (ILT), which is known to have multiple biochemical and biomechanical implications. Development of the ILT is not well understood, and shear–stress-triggered activation of platelets could be the first step in its evolution. Vortical structures (VSs) in the flow affect platelet dynamics, which motivated the present study of a possible correlation between VS and ILT formation in AAAs. VSs educed by the λ 2 -method using computational fluid dynamics simulations of the backward-facing step problem, normal aorta, fusiform AAA and saccular AAA were investigated. Patient-specific luminal geometries were reconstructed from computed tomography scans, and Newtonian and Carreau–Yasuda models were used to capture salient rheological features of blood flow. Particularly in complex flow domains, results depended on the constitutive model. VSs developed all along the normal aorta, showing that a clear correlation between VSs and high wall shear stress (WSS) existed, and that VSs started to break up during late systole. In contrast, in the fusiform AAA, large VSs developed at sites of tortuous geometry and high WSS, occupying the entire lumen, and lasting over the entire cardiac cycle. Downward motion of VSs in the AAA was in the range of a few centimetres per cardiac cycle, and with a VS burst at that location, the release (from VSs) of shear-stress-activated platelets and their deposition to the wall was within the lower part of the diseased artery, i.e. where the thickest ILT layer is typically observed. In the saccular AAA, only one VS was found near the healthy portion of the aorta, while in the aneurysmatic bulge, no VSs occurred. We present a fluid-dynamics-motivated mechanism for platelet activation, convection and deposition in AAAs that has the potential of improving our current understanding of the pathophysiology of fluid-driven ILT growth.

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Endres ◽  
Markus Kowarschik ◽  
Thomas Redel ◽  
Puneet Sharma ◽  
Viorel Mihalef ◽  
...  

Increasing interest is drawn on hemodynamic parameters for classifying the risk of rupture as well as treatment planning of cerebral aneurysms. A proposed method to obtain quantities such as wall shear stress, pressure, and blood flow velocity is to numerically simulate the blood flow using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methods. For the validation of those calculated quantities, virtually generated angiograms, based on the CFD results, are increasingly used for a subsequent comparison with real, acquired angiograms. For the generation of virtual angiograms, several patient-specific parameters have to be incorporated to obtain virtual angiograms which match the acquired angiograms as best as possible. For this purpose, a workflow is presented and demonstrated involving multiple phantom and patient cases.


2000 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-292 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bogdan Ene-Iordache ◽  
Lidia Mosconi ◽  
Giuseppe Remuzzi ◽  
Andrea Remuzzi

Vascular accesses (VA) for hemodialysis are usually created by native arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) or synthetic grafts. Maintaining patency of VA continues to be a major problem for patients with end-stage renal disease, since in these vessels thrombosis and intimal hyperplasia often occur. These lesions are frequently associated with disturbed flow that develops near bifurcations or sharp curvatures. We explored the possibility of investigating blood flow dynamics in a patient-specific model of end-to-end native AVF using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Using digital subtraction angiographies of an AVF, we generated a three-dimensional meshwork for numerical analysis of blood flow. As input condition, a time-dependent blood waveform in the radial artery was derived from centerline velocity obtained during echo-color-Doppler ultrasound examination. The finite element solution was calculated using a fluid-dynamic software package. In the straight, afferent side of the radial artery wall shear stress ranged between 20 and 36 dynes/cm2, while on the inner surface of the bending zone it increased up to 350 dynes/cm2. On the venous side, proximal to the anastomosis, wall shear stress was oscillating between negative and positive values (from −12 dynes/cm2 to 112 dynes/cm2), while distal from the anastomosis, the wall shear stress returned within the physiologic range, ranging from 8 to 22 dynes/cm2. Areas of the vessel wall with very high shear stress gradient were identified on the bending zone of the radial artery and on the venous side, after the arteriovenous shunt. Secondary blood flows were also observed in these regions. CFD gave a detailed description of blood flow field and showed that this approach can be used for patient-specific analysis of blood vessels, to understand better the role of local hemodynamic conditions in the development of vascular lesions.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 396-404
Author(s):  
Chlöe Harriet Armour ◽  
Claudia Menichini ◽  
Kristijonas Milinis ◽  
Richard G. J. Gibbs ◽  
Xiao Yun Xu

Purpose: To report a study that assesses the influence of the distance between the distal end of a thoracic stent-graft and the first reentry tear (SG-FRT) on the progression of false lumen (FL) thrombosis in patients who underwent thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR). Materials and Methods: Three patient-specific geometrical models were reconstructed from postoperative computed tomography scans. Two additional models were created by artificially changing the SG-FRT distance in patients 1 and 2. In all 5 models, computational fluid dynamics simulations coupled with thrombus formation modeling were performed at physiological flow conditions. Predicted FL thrombosis was compared to follow-up scans. Results: There was reduced false lumen flow and low time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS) in patients with large SG-FRT distances. Predicted thrombus formation and growth were consistent with follow-up scans for all patients. Reducing the SG-FRT distance by 30 mm in patient 1 increased the flow and time-averaged wall shear stress in the upper abdominal FL, reducing the thrombus volume by 9.6%. Increasing the SG-FRT distance in patient 2 resulted in faster thoracic thrombosis and increased total thrombus volume. Conclusion: The location of reentry tears can influence the progression of FL thrombosis following TEVAR. The more distal the reentry tear in the aorta the more likely it is that FL thrombosis will occur. Hence, the distal landing zone of the stent-graft should be chosen carefully to ensure a sufficient SG-FRT distance.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Hyuk Park ◽  
Yue Qiu ◽  
Haoyao Cao ◽  
Ding Yuan ◽  
Da Li ◽  
...  

Abstract Central venous catheter (CVC) related thrombosis is a major cause of CVC dysfunction in patients under hemodialysis. The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of CVC insertion on hemodynamics in the central veins and to examine the changes in hemodynamic environments that may be related to thrombus formation due to the implantation of CVC. Patient-specific models of the central veins with and without CVC were reconstructed based on computed tomography images. Flow patterns in the veins were numerically simulated to obtain hemodynamic parameters such as time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), oscillating shear index (OSI), relative residence time (RRT), and normalized transverse wall shear stress (transWSS) under pulsatile flow. The non-Newtonian effects of blood flow were also analyzed using the Casson model. The insertion of CVC caused significant changes in the hemodynamic environment in the central veins. A greater disturbance and increase of velocity were observed in the central veins after the insertion of CVC. As a result, TAWSS and transWSS were markedly increased, but most parts of OSI and RRT decreased. Newtonian assumption of blood flow would overestimate the increase in TAWSS after CVC insertion. High wall shear stress (WSS) and flow disturbance, especially the multidirectionality of the flow, induced by the CVC may be a key factor in initiating thrombosis after CVC insertion. Accordingly, approaches to decrease the flow disturbance during CVC insertion may help restrain the occurrence of thrombosis. More case studies with pre-operative and postoperative modeling and clinical follow-up need to be performed to verify these findings. Non-Newtonian blood flow assumption is recommended in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of veins with CVCs.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Polina A. Segalova ◽  
Guanglei Xiong ◽  
K. T. Venkateswara Rao ◽  
Christopher K. Zarins ◽  
Charles A. Taylor

Computer modeling of blood flow in patient-specific anatomies can be a powerful tool for evaluating the design of implantable medical devices. We assessed three different endograft designs, which are implantable devices commonly used to treat patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs). Once implanted, the endograft may shift within the patient’s aorta allowing blood to flow into the aneurismal sac. One potential cause for this movement is the pulsatile force experienced by the endograft over the cardiac cycle. We used contrast-enhanced computed tomography angiography (CTA) data from four patients with diagnosed AAAs to build patient-specific models using 3D segmentation. For each of the four patients, we constructed a baseline model from the patient’s preoperative CTA data. In addition, geometries characterizing three distinct endograft designs were created, differing by where each device bifurcated into two limbs (proximal bifurcation, mid bifurcation, and distal bifurcation). Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) was used to simulate blood flow, utilizing patient-specific boundary conditions. Pressures, flows, and displacement forces on the endograft surface were calculated. The curvature and surface area of each device was quantified for all patients. The magnitude of the total displacement force on each device ranged from 2.43 N to 8.68 N for the four patients examined. Within each of the four patient anatomies, the total displacement force was similar (varying at least by 0.12 N and at most by 1.43 N), although there were some differences in the direction of component forces. Proximal bifurcation and distal bifurcation geometries consistently generated the smallest and largest displacement forces, respectively, with forces observed in the mid bifurcation design falling in between the two devices. The smallest curvature corresponded to the smallest total displacement force, and higher curvature values generally corresponded to higher magnitudes of displacement force. The same trend was seen for the surface area of each device, with lower surface areas resulting in lower displacement forces and vise versa. The patient with the highest blood pressure displayed the highest magnitudes of displacement force. The data indicate that curvature, device surface area, and patient blood pressure impact the magnitude of displacement force acting on the device. Endograft design may influence the displacement force experienced by an implanted endograft, with the proximal bifurcation design showing a small advantage for minimizing the displacement force on endografts.


Author(s):  
Daniele Dipresa ◽  
Panagiotis Kalozoumis ◽  
Michael Pflaum ◽  
Ariana Peredo ◽  
Bettina Wiegmann ◽  
...  

Abstract Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has been used clinically for more than 40 years as a bridge to transplantation, with hollow-fiber membrane (HFM) oxygenators gaining in popularity due to their high gas transfer and low flow resistance. In spite of the technological advances in ECMO devices, the inevitable contact of the perfused blood with the polymer hollow-fiber gas-exchange membrane, and the subsequent thrombus formation, limits their clinical usage to only 2-4 weeks. In addition, the inhomogeneous flow in the device can further enhance thrombus formation and limit gas-transport efficiency. Endothelialisation of the blood contacting surfaces of ECMO devices offers a potential solution to their inherent thrombogenicity. However, abnormal shear stresses and inhomogeneous blood flow might affect the function and activation status of the seeded endothelial cells (ECs). In this study, the blood flow through two HFM oxygenators, including the commercially-available iLA® MiniLung Petite Novalung (Xenios AG, Germany) and an experimental one for the rat animal model, was modelled using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), with a view to assessing the magnitude and distribution of the shear stress on the wall of the hollow fibers and flow fields in the oxygenators. This work demonstrated significant inhomogeneity in the flow dynamics of both oxygenators, with regions of high hollow-fiber wall shear stress and regions of stagnant flow, implying both regions of increased flow-induced blood damage and a variable flow-induced stimulation on seeded ECs in a biohybrid setting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
V Thondapu ◽  
E K W Poon ◽  
E Revalor ◽  
S Zhu ◽  
J Dijkstra ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although blood is a non-Newtonian fluid, most clinical computational fluid dynamic (CFD) studies assume blood to be a Newtonian fluid with constant viscosity. At higher blood flow rates in larger arteries, the two models should present similar results, and the Newtonian assumption can be considered acceptable. However, whether the Newtonian assumption is valid in patient-specific coronary arteries under pulsatile flow has not been evaluated. Purpose To compare CFD results using Newtonian and non-Newtonian models of blood in order to determine whether the Newtonian assumption can be considered valid in patient-specific coronary arteries. Methods Coronary arteries of 16 patients were reconstructed from fusion of angiography and intracoronary optical coherence tomography imaging. Pulsatile CFD simulations using Newtonian and non-Newtonian models were performed to calculate endothelial shear stress (ESS). The absolute and percent difference in time-averaged and instantaneous ESS values (calculated as non-Newtonian minus Newtonian) were compared on a point-to-point basis. The percent area of the vessel exposed to proatherogenic ESS values (considered <1 Pa) in each model was also calculated. Results The Newtonian and non-Newtonian models produce similar qualitative distributions of ESS. However, quantitative comparison shows that compared to the Newtonian results, the non-Newtonian model estimates significantly higher time-averaged ESS (2.04±0.63Pa versus 1.59±0.54Pa, 95% CI 0.39–0.49, p<0.001) throughout the cardiac cycle. This results in significantly greater estimate of area exposed to ESS <1Pa in the Newtonian model (50.43±14.16% versus 37.20±13.57%, 95% CI 11.28–15.18, p<0.001). Instantaneous ESS plotted through the cardiac cycle indicates the greatest divergence in ESS values occurs at the transition between end-systole and early diastole, at approximately 0.35 seconds (FIGURE). Conclusions Despite similar qualitative ESS distributions, Newtonian and non-Newtonian simulations provide significantly different quantitative ESS values. This suggests that in patient-specific simulations of coronary blood flow, the non-Newtonian model may increase accuracy of ESS measurements. We hypothesize that using a non-Newtonian model may improve the diagnostic accuracy of abnormal ESS to predict clinically significant progression of atherosclerosis, however further study is necessary.


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