Computational simulation of carotid stenosis and flow dynamics based on patient ultrasound data - A new tool for risk assessment and surgical planning

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2016

Authors

Luisa Costa Sousa (Author) FEUP; Catarina Castro (Author) FEUP; Carlos Alberto Conceição António (Author) FEUP; Fernando Sousa (Author) Other; Rosa Santos (Author) FMUP; Pedro Castro (Author) FMUP; Elsa Azevedo (Author) FMUP

Journal

Title: Advances in Medical Sciences

Vol. 61 No. 1

Pages: 32-39

ISSN: 1896-1126

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 24 Citations

Scopus - 27 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology

CORDIS: Health sciences ; Technological sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00K-4KC

DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2015.07.009

Abstract (EN): Purpose: There is nowadays extensive experimental and computational investigation on the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, searching correlations between its focal nature and local hemodynamic environment. The goal of this work is to present a methodology for patient-specific hemodynamics study of the carotid artery bifurcation based on the use of ultrasound (US) morphological and blood flow velocity patient data. Materials/methods: Subject-specific studies were performed for two patients, using a developed finite element code. Geometrical models were obtained from the acquisition of longitudinal and sequential cross-sectional ultrasound images and boundary conditions from Doppler velocity measurements at the common carotid artery. Results: There was a good agreement between ultrasound imaging data and computational simulated results. For a normal and a stenosed carotid bifurcation the velocity, wall shear stress (WSS) and WSS descriptors analysis illustrated the extremely complex hemodynamic behavior along the cardiac cycle. Different patterns were found, associated with morphology and hemodynamic patient-specific conditions. High values of time-averaged WSS (TAWSS) were found at stenosis site and for both patients TAWSS fields presented low values within areas of high oscillating shear index and relative residence time values, corresponding to recirculation zones. Conclusion: Simulated hemodynamic parameters were able to capture the disturbed flow conditions in a normal and a stenosed carotid artery bifurcation, which play an important role in the development of local atherosclerotic plaques. Computational simulations based on clinic US might help improving diagnostic and treatment management of carotid atherosclerosis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 8