Evaluating the Impact of Domain Boundaries on Hemodynamics in Intracranial Aneurysms within the Circle of Willis

Abstract

Hemodynamic simulations are increasingly used to study vascular diseases such as Intracranial Aneurysms (IA) and to further develop treatment options. However, due to limited data, certain aspects must rely on heuristics, especially at the simulation’s distal ends. In the literature, Murray’s Law is often used to model the outflow split based on vessel cross-section area; however, this poses challenges for the communicating arteries in the Circle of Willis (CoW). In this study, we contribute by assessing the impact of Murray’s Law in patient-specific geometries featuring IA at the posterior communication. We simulate different domain extensions representing common modelling choices and establish Full CoW simulations as a baseline to evaluate the effect of these modelling assumptions on hemodynamic indicators, focusing on IA growth and rupture-related factors such as the Wall Shear Stress (WSS) and Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI). Our findings reveal qualitative alterations in hemodynamics when not modeling posterior communication. Comparisons between computing the anterior circulation and computing the whole Circle of Willis reveal that quantitative changes in WSS may reach up to 80%, highlighting the significance of modelling choices in assessing IA risks and treatment strategies.