Local coronary artery hemodynamics and plaques

Objective To study the local coronary artery parameters and their relation with coronary atherosclerosis by establishing the normal coronary artery hemodynamics model using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques. Methods A 3D geometric model of coronary artery hemodynamics was established according to the CT images.Numerical value was simulated for the anterior descending branch of normal left coronary artery and blood flow value was simulated with the finite volume. Results The anterior descending branch model of normal left coronary artery tree was established and its hemodynamic parameters were displayed, including streamlines of blood velocity, wall pressure (WP), and wall shear stress (WSS).The parameters were irregularly distributed.The blood flow velocity was significantly lower at the outer walls of bifurcations with high WP and WSS, and low WP and WSS at the opposite side of vascular walls. Conclusion CT image-based numerical value simulation technique can be used in establishing coronary artery hemodynamics model, and in analyzing the relation between hemodynamics parameters and coronary atherosclerosis.