A computational study on the influence of aortic valve disease on hemodynamics in dilated aorta

Lijian Xu; Lekang Yin; Youjun Liu; Fuyou Liang; Lijian Xu; Lekang Yin; Youjun Liu; Fuyou Liang

doi:10.3934/mbe.2020031

Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering

2020, Volume 17, Issue 1: 606-626. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2020031

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A computational study on the influence of aortic valve disease on hemodynamics in dilated aorta

1.
School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
2.
Collaborative Innovation Center for Advanced Ship and Deep-Sea Exploration (CISSE), Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 800 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai 200240, China
3.
Department of Radiology, Shanghai Chest Hospital, Shanghai 200030, China
4.
College of Life Science and Bioengineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, 100124, China

Received: 13 August 2019 Accepted: 16 October 2019 Published: 21 October 2019

A computational hemodynamics method was employed to investigate how the morphotype and functional state of aortic valve would affect the characteristics of blood flow in aortas with pathological dilation, especially the intensity and distribution of flow turbulence. Two patient-specific aortas diagnosed to have pathological dilation of the ascending segment while differential aortic valve conditions (i.e., one with a stenotic and regurgitant RL bicuspid aortic valve (RL-BAV), whereas the other with a quasi-normal tricuspid aortic valve (TAV)) were studied. When building the computational models, in addition to in vivo data-based reconstruction of geometrical model and boundary condition setting, the large eddy simulation method was adopted to quantify potential flow turbulence in the aortas. Obtained results revealed the presence of complex flow patterns (denoted by time-varying changes in vortex structure), flow turbulence (indicated by high turbulent eddy viscosity (TEV)), and regional high wall shear stress (WSS) in the ascending segment of both aortas. Such hemodynamic characteristics were significantly augmented in the aorta with RL-BAV. For instance, the space-averaged TEV in late systole and the wall area exposed to high time-averaged WSS (judged by WSS> two times of the mean WSS in the entire aorta) in the ascending aortic segment were increased by 176% and 465%, respectively. Relatively, flow patterns in the descending aortic segment were less influenced by the aortic valve disease. These results indicate that aortic valve disease has profound impacts on flow characteristics in the ascending aorta, especially the distribution and degree of high WSS and flow turbulence.
- aortic dilation,
- aortic valve disease,
- flow turbulence,
- computational model,
- large eddy simulation
Citation: Lijian Xu, Lekang Yin, Youjun Liu, Fuyou Liang. A computational study on the influence of aortic valve disease on hemodynamics in dilated aorta[J]. Mathematical Biosciences and Engineering, 2020, 17(1): 606-626. doi: 10.3934/mbe.2020031

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Abstract

A computational hemodynamics method was employed to investigate how the morphotype and functional state of aortic valve would affect the characteristics of blood flow in aortas with pathological dilation, especially the intensity and distribution of flow turbulence. Two patient-specific aortas diagnosed to have pathological dilation of the ascending segment while differential aortic valve conditions (i.e., one with a stenotic and regurgitant RL bicuspid aortic valve (RL-BAV), whereas the other with a quasi-normal tricuspid aortic valve (TAV)) were studied. When building the computational models, in addition to in vivo data-based reconstruction of geometrical model and boundary condition setting, the large eddy simulation method was adopted to quantify potential flow turbulence in the aortas. Obtained results revealed the presence of complex flow patterns (denoted by time-varying changes in vortex structure), flow turbulence (indicated by high turbulent eddy viscosity (TEV)), and regional high wall shear stress (WSS) in the ascending segment of both aortas. Such hemodynamic characteristics were significantly augmented in the aorta with RL-BAV. For instance, the space-averaged TEV in late systole and the wall area exposed to high time-averaged WSS (judged by WSS> two times of the mean WSS in the entire aorta) in the ascending aortic segment were increased by 176% and 465%, respectively. Relatively, flow patterns in the descending aortic segment were less influenced by the aortic valve disease. These results indicate that aortic valve disease has profound impacts on flow characteristics in the ascending aorta, especially the distribution and degree of high WSS and flow turbulence.

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