Three-dimensional numerical simulations of physiological flows in a stented coronary bifurcation

When atherosclerotic lesions are found within a coronary bifurcation, a double stent implantation is sometimes required to treat the disease of each branch. The clinical procedure can result in the positioning of several stents in the bifurcation. In the study, physiological flows in typical configurations of such stented coronary bifurcations were numerically modelled using the finite volumes method. Two deployed Palmaz stents were inserted in a 90 degrees coronary bifurcation, simulating a double stent implantation. As the geometric position of the metallic stent cells can vary, several models of broken cells were proposed and compared to characterise the influence of the stent struts protruding into the collateral branch. Flow features in the bifurcation surroundings changed from one model to another. These changes could lead to the occurrence of flow stasis and also of recirculation areas downstream from the struts, depending on the way the strut was opened. The stent struts protruding into the lumen of the collateral branch induced high values of shear stress at the stent wall of about 20 N m(-2), which could stimulate platelet activation. In addition, these areas of high shear stress values were concomitant with areas of low shear stress values of about 0.5 Nm(-2). These regions could be prone to platelet adhesion and so to thrombo-embolic complications. The analysis of the flow field indicated that it would be judicious to use dedicated bifurcated stents to treat bifurcation lesions.