Numerical investigation of two-phase non-Newtonian blood flow in bifurcate pulmonary arteries with a flow resistant using Eulerian multiphase model

Abstract

In this study, blood flow in bifurcate channels that are pulmonary arteries after a novel surgery with Blalock–Taussig (B-T) shunt and intrapulmonary-artery fenestrated septation is investigated using Eulerian multiphase model. The B-T shunt tube allows the blood from systemic arteries flowing into lungs, the fenestrated patch acts as a flow resistant in well-grown artery. Numerical results show a serious unbalanced perfusion to branch outlets in situation only with B-T shunt, while it is alleviated by adding a fenestrated patch. As the fenestrated diameter decreases from 7 mm to 3 mm, flow distribution ratio (FDR) of poorly-grown artery improves from 31% to 61%, but energy loss increases from 0.23 W to 0.52 W. The B-T tube diameter and hematocrit have no effect on the FDR. Decreasing the fenestrated diameter or increasing B-T tube diameter and hematocrit leads to an increase in WSS, which simulates the development of poorly-grown artery.