3D numerical model of blood flow in the coronary artery bypass graft during no pulse and pulse situations: Effects of an anastomotic angle and characteristics of fluid

Abstract

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a fatal condition caused by atherosclerosis or plaque on the arterial walls resulting in its breakage. Curing this disease effectively can be conducted through bypass graft surgery, which helps to restore the blood flow. However, some patients have required repeated surgery because of frequent failures of an implanted bypass graft. In this study, the stenosed coronary artery bypass graft including an analysis of the blood flow phenomena and wall shear stress, based on a three-dimensional computer model, was analyzed and developed to approach a realistic situation, inlet pulse and non-Newtonian behavior. The effects of the anastomotic angles (45°, 60° and 90°), blood characteristics (Newtonian and non-Newtonian) and inlet situations (with and without pulse) were taken into consideration. The results demonstrated that the anastomosis of 45° was the most appropriate for resolving the CHD problem and could act as a guide for medical treatment as well.