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Computational models of aortic coarctation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome: considerations on validation of a
Giovanni Biglino1, Chiara Corsini, Silvia Schievano
1* These authors contributed equally to this work.
Insights
This study validates a computational model for hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aortic coarctation using physical data. The validated model reliably predicts hemodynamic information for complex congenital heart disease investigations.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular research
- Computational fluid dynamics
- Medical device simulation
Background:
- Computational models require validation against physical data for reliable cardiovascular research.
- Complex congenital heart disease, such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aortic coarctation, presents unique modeling challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To experimentally validate a patient-specific computational model of surgically palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aortic coarctation.
- To demonstrate the reliability of extrapolating hemodynamic information from validated computational models for clinical use.
Main Methods:
- A multi-scale approach combining a 3D patient-specific aortic arch model with a lumped parameter network (LPN) was used.
- The model simulated a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and aortic coarctation under various flow regimes.
- Experimental data from a mock circulatory system were used for in silico model validation, assessing viscosity impacts.
Main Results:
- Computational and experimental results showed good agreement in flow and pressure waveforms (e.g., mean aortic pressure within 4.8% difference).
- The validated numerical approach proved reliable for simulating complex congenital heart disease hemodynamics.
- Fluid viscosity and turbulence models had minimal impact on key hemodynamic parameters.
Conclusions:
- Methodological insights were provided for integrating experimental data into computational models.
- A multi-scale approach is effective for simulating complex congenital cardiovascular physiology.
- Validated computational models offer reliable hemodynamic insights for clinical investigations.
Background:
Reliability of computational models for cardiovascular investigations strongly depends on their validation against physical data. This study aims to experimentally validate a computational model of complex congenital heart disease (i.e., surgically palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome with aortic coarctation) thus demonstrating that hemodynamic information can be reliably extrapolated from the model for clinically meaningful investigations.
Materials And Methods:
A patient-specific aortic arch model was tested in a mock circulatory system and the same flow conditions were re-created in silico, by setting an appropriate lumped parameter network (LPN) attached to the same three-dimensional (3D) aortic model (i.e., multi-scale approach). The model included a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt and coarctation of the aorta. Different flow regimes were tested as well as the impact of uncertainty in viscosity.
Results:
Computational flow and pressure results were in good agreement with the experimental signals, both qualitatively, in terms of the shape of the waveforms, and quantitatively (mean aortic pressure 62.3 vs. 65.1 mmHg, 4.8% difference; mean aortic flow 28.0 vs. 28.4% inlet flow, 1.4% difference; coarctation pressure drop 30.0 vs. 33.5 mmHg, 10.4% difference), proving the reliability of the numerical approach. It was observed that substantial changes in fluid viscosity or using a turbulent model in the numerical simulations did not significantly affect flows and pressures of the investigated physiology. Results highlighted how the non-linear fluid dynamic phenomena occurring in vitro must be properly described to ensure satisfactory agreement.
Conclusions:
This study presents methodological considerations for using experimental data to preliminarily set up a computational model, and then simulate a complex congenital physiology using a multi-scale approach.
