(394b) Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations of the Human Carotid Artery to Predict Strokes in Patients with Carotid Artery Disease

Computational
Fluid Dynamics Simulations of the Human Carotid Artery to Predict Strokes in
Patients with Carotid Artery Disease

Anna K. Weldy, Amanda M. Forti and David G. Foster

Department of Chemical
Engineering

University of Rochester

Rochester, New York

The purpose of this study is to investigate the
potential for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to predict stroke
in patients with carotid artery disease. CFD was used to study the flow
patterns using patient’s carotid artery scans paying specific attention to the
geometry, velocity profiles, streamlines and pressure gradients. Using these
data, we were able to computationally simulate individual patient’s unique blood
flow patterns and pressure gradients based on computerized tomography
angiography (CTA) for geometry, and ultrasound data for velocity and pressure
data. First, we obtained patient results coupled with patient outcomes for
stroke, to develop the understanding of which flow patterns and geometries were
most likely predictors of adverse outcomes. Next, we obtained additional
patient data without the patient outcomes, and compared our predicted outcome
to the actual outcome. These correlations are then used to modify our data
analysis to ensure a more accurate prediction of patient outcomes based on the
CFD simulations. This paper will overview our work and the present status
toward an accurate prediction of stroke in patients using CFD simulations.