Endoscopic balloon dilation of a stenosed artery stenting via cfd tool open-foam: Physiology of angioplasty and stent placement

Abstract

The blood flow analysis inside an arterial segment of the left main coronary artery having stenosis is mathematically modeled. Numerical simulations are provided for the very first time for two considered cases that cover the thorough process of angioplasty and stent placement inside a coronary artery having symmetric stenosis. Firstly, the numerical simulations are disclosed for the section of a stenosed artery having a catheter placed inside it with a balloon plus stent over it. The second case covers the numerical simulations of blood flow inside the artery after a stent is placed that keeps the artery wide open and minimizes the effect of stenosis. Thus, the prime novelty of this work entertains the thorough mathematical modeling and FVM based numerical simulations for angioplasty of a coronary artery having a symmetric shape of stenosis. The current research work is modeled for the non-Newtonian Casson fluid to consider a more realistic approach of blood flow. This computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is interpreted through the free source CFD C++ toolbox Open-FOAM. Numerical solutions are provided by using Open-FOAM that works on the principle of finite volume method. The detailed graphical results are disclosed for the process of angioplasty in addition to the simulation work obtained after completion of angioplasty and stent placement. The work provided is beneficial for surgical interpretations, detecting location of stenosis, place the balloon and stent at exact location via catheter, minimizing the effect of stenosis by placing a stent inside the artery, reducing the experimental cost by using simulations data. The catheter and balloon is removed after angioplasty, and the stent keeps the artery wide open to normalize the blood flow. Eventually, the coronary artery disease (CAD) is cured through this angioplasty and the risk of a heart attack is eliminated. A more developed and easily passing blood flow is revealed after the placement of stent.