Editor's Choice - Fluid-Structure Interaction Simulations of Aortic Dissection with Bench Validation.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Computational Fluid Dynamics
• Cardiovascular Research

Background:

• Aortic dissections involve complex blood flow dynamics and stresses within the dissected flap.
• Understanding these interactions is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a fluid-structure interaction (FSI) computational model for aortic dissections.
• To gain insights into blood flow patterns and flap dynamics in aortic dissections.

Main Methods:

• A coupled, two-way computational model simulating blood flow and flap wall interaction was created.
• The Arbitrary Lagrange-Eulerian method was employed to handle mesh deformation.
• Inflow velocity waveforms from a pulse duplicator system were utilized for simulation input.

Main Results:

• Simulated blood flow velocities in the true lumen (TL) and false lumen (FL) closely matched experimental data.
• The dynamic changes in TL cross-sectional area (CSA) throughout the cardiac cycle were accurately replicated.
• Significant stress concentrations were identified on the flap's leading edge, corners, and the vessel wall, driven by the pressure gradient across the FL.

Conclusions:

• The validated FSI model accurately reproduces blood flow velocities and cross-sectional area dynamics in aortic dissections.
• The model provides critical insights into flap stresses and flow disturbances, paving the way for novel therapeutic interventions.
• This validated computational platform can be extended for simulating realistic human aortic dissections and evaluating treatments like stent-grafts.