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The influence of boundary conditions on wall shear stress distribution in patients specific coronary trees

Alina G van der Giessen1, Harald C Groen, Pierre-André Doriot

  • 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Erasmus Erasmus MC, Biomechanics Laboratory Ee2322, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

Journal of Biomechanics
|February 26, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Two models for estimating coronary artery side branch flow show significant differences in predicting wall shear stress (WSS). Murray's law underestimates side branch flow, impacting WSS calculations crucial for understanding atherosclerosis development.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging and Hemodynamics
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Computational Fluid Dynamics

Background:

  • Multislice computer tomography (MSCT) provides patient-specific coronary artery geometry but lacks hemodynamic data.
  • Estimating blood flow through side branches is essential for accurate hemodynamic analysis.
  • Wall shear stress (WSS) distribution is critical for understanding atherosclerosis plaque development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the impact of two different models for side branch flow estimation on wall shear stress (WSS) distribution in patient-specific coronary artery geometries.
  • To compare Murray's law with an empirical model based on experimental flow measurements.

Main Methods:

  • Applied two models (Murray's law and an empirical model with a power of 2.27) to estimate side branch flow in 6 patient-specific coronary artery trees.
  • Analyzed the resulting wall shear stress (WSS) distribution under steady flow conditions.
  • Quantified differences in average WSS and the size of low WSS regions near bifurcations.

Main Results:

  • Murray's law, predicting flow ratio with diameter cubed, underestimated side branch flow compared to the empirical model.
  • Average WSS differed significantly between models (8% higher with Murray's law), with relative differences from -5% to +27%.
  • Low WSS regions near bifurcations were significantly larger (13%) using the empirical model, indicating pronounced differences where atherosclerosis typically develops.

Conclusions:

  • Murray's law underestimates flow through coronary artery side branches.
  • The choice of model significantly impacts WSS distribution, particularly in regions prone to atherosclerotic plaque formation.
  • Accurate estimation of side branch flow is crucial for reliable WSS-based risk assessment in coronary artery disease.

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