Flow Patterns in Three-Dimensional Porcine Epicardial Coronary Arterial Tree

Yunlong Huo, Thomas Wischgoll, Ghassan S. Kassab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The branching pattern of epicardial coronary arteries is clearly three-dimensional, with correspondingly complex flow patterns. The objective of the present study was to perform a detailed hemodynamic analysis using a three-dimensional finite element method in a left anterior descending (LAD) epicardial arterial tree, including main trunk and primary branches, based on computed tomography scans. The inlet LAD flow velocity was measured in an anesthetized pig, and the outlet pressure boundary condition was estimated based on scaling laws. The spatial and temporal wall shear stress (WSS), gradient of WSS (WSSG), and oscillatory shear index (OSI) were calculated and used to identify regions of flow disturbances in the vicinity of primary bifurcations. We found that low WSS and high OSI coincide with disturbed flows (stagnated, secondary, and reversed flows) opposite to the flow divider and lateral to the junction orifice of the main trunk and primary branches. High time-averaged WSSG occurs in regions of bifurcations, with the flow divider having maximum values. Low WSS and high OSI were found to be related through a power law relationship. Furthermore, zones of low time-averaged WSS and high OSI amplified for larger diameter ratio and high inlet flow rate. Hence, different focal atherosclerotic-prone regions may be explained by different physical mechanism associated with certain critical levels of low WSS, high OSI, and high WSSG, which are strongly affected by the diameter ratio. The implications of the flow patterns for atherogenesis are enumerated.

Original languageAmerican English
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
Volume293
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2007

Keywords

  • Left Anterior Descending Arterial Tree
  • Oscillatory Shear Index
  • Spatial Gradient of Wall Shear Stress
  • Wall Shear Stress

Disciplines

  • Computer Sciences
  • Engineering

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