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

• Published in: Advances in medical sciences Vol. 61; no. 1; pp. 32 - 39
• Main Authors: Sousa, Luísa C., Castro, Catarina F., António, Carlos C., Sousa, Fernando, Santos, Rosa, Castro, Pedro, Azevedo, Elsa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o 01.03.2016; Elsevier
• Subjects: 3D reconstruction and mesh generation; Atherosclerotic plaque; Blood Flow Velocity; Carotid artery bifurcation; Carotid Artery, Common - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Artery, Common - physiopathology; Carotid Artery, Common - surgery; Carotid Stenosis - diagnostic imaging; Carotid Stenosis - physiopathology; Carotid Stenosis - surgery; Computer Simulation; Doppler ultrasound; Hemorheology; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Patient Care Planning; Risk Assessment; Shear Strength; Stenosis; Ultrasonography; Stenosis; Carotid artery bifurcation; 3D reconstruction and mesh generation; Atherosclerotic plaque; Doppler ultrasound
• DOI: 10.1016/j.advms.2015.07.009
• ISSN: 1896-1126; 1898-4002

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. 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. 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. 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.