Author(s)

S.I. BERNAD, E.S. BERNAD, A.F. TOTOREAN, M.L. CRAINA & I. SARGAN

Abstract

Effects of serial stenosis on coronary hemodynamics are investigated in the human right coronary artery (RCA) by blood flow analysis. The 3D reconstruction of the geometry of the stenosed coronary artery uses the multislice computerized tomography serial images method. Results of the numerical analysis present the hemodynamic characteristics of the serial stenosed coronary artery throughout the flow separation, pressure drop and wall shear stress. The pressure loss associated with recirculation region created in the vicinity of each constriction was found to be large. In two stenoses the corresponding pressure gradients are around 30 mmHg and correspond to the stenosis with fractional flow reserve—FFR < 0.7 (value associated to the severe stenosis). Distal to the stenosis, flow is associated with fluctuations in the wall shear stress and vorticity. Both FFR and CFD analysis help identify intermediate lesions that require intervention and reduce unnecessary procedures with potential complications.

Keywords

fractional flow reserve, hemodynamics, pressure drop, right coronary artery, serial stenosis, wall shear stress