FSI analysis of synthetic graft for coronary bypass flow: numerical optimization of geometric parameters

Coronary artery disease, a leading cause of mortality worldwide, often necessitates bypass surgery to restore blood flow and prevent myocardial infarction. In this procedure, a graft is sutured to the coronary artery, bypassing the occluded region. Synthetic grafts are a viable option for such surgeries. This study optimizes the geometric design of synthetic grafts by determining the ideal connection angle and diameter using a genetic algorithm. The algorithm minimizes the Time-Averaged Wall Shear Stress (TAWSS) as the cost function. Parametric variations were applied, with the diameter ranging from 2.5 mm to 4 mm and the connection angle from 20° to 85°. The optimal model identified a graft diameter of 4 mm and a connection angle of 61°. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analyses of the optimal design revealed that elevated TAWSS was confined to a small region at the graft-coronary artery junction and the toe of the anastomosis. These findings underscore the importance of optimizing graft geometry to enhance the hemodynamic performance, efficiency, and durability of synthetic grafts in bypass surgeries.