Numerical Study of Blood Flow at the End-to-Side Anastomosis of a Left Ventricular Assist Device for Adult Patients

Abstract

We use an implicit large eddy simulation (ILES) method based on a finite volume approach to capture the turbulence in the anastomoses of a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to the aorta. The order-of-accuracy of the numerical schemes is computed using a two-dimensional decaying Taylor-Green vortex. The ILES method is carefully validated by comparing to documented results for a fully developed turbulent channel flow at Re(tau)=395. Two different anastomotic flows (proximal and distal) are simulated for 50% and 100% LVAD supports and the results are compared with a healthy aortic flow. All the analyses are based on a planar aortic model under steady inflow conditions for simplification. Our results reveal that the outflow cannulae induce high exit jet flows in the aorta, resulting in turbulent flow. The distal configuration causes more turbulence in the aorta than the proximal configuration. The turbulence, however, may not cause any hemolysis due to low Reynolds stresses and relatively large Kolmogorov length scales compared with red blood cells. The LVAD support causes an acute increase in flow splitting in the major branch vessels for both anastomotic configurations, although its long-term effect on the flow splitting remains unknown. A large increase in wall shear stress is found near the cannulation sites during the LVAD support. This work builds a foundation for more physiologically realistic simulations under pulsatile flow conditions.