The effect of bifurcation angulation on flow characteristics and hemodynamic indicators in an idealized left coronary artery

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a pathological condition characterized by inflammation in the main arteries, which serves as the primary factor for the development of cardiovascular disease. This condition represents the prevailing medical and surgical issue. Clinically, consequences of this condition might include stroke, coronary artery and heart disease, or peripheral vascular disease. In this study, the hemodynamic effect of three different angulations is numerically analyzed on left coronary artery and constant degree of stenosis (DoS) which equals to 50 % is implemented on each branch of three models to create stenotic arteries. The idealized left main coronary artery (LM) is modeled with its primary branches, namely left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx). The bifurcation angulations between LAD and LCx are considered 30°, 75° and 120°. All numerical analyses are carried out in transient regime, blood is considered as a non-Newtonian fluid and the Carreau viscosity model is selected to describe the viscosity variation of blood. The outcomes of all numerical analyses revealed that the blood flow across the branches is closely related to bifurcation angle. Recirculation is vital in the post-stenotic regions of LAD and LCx, and velocity enhances its breadth. WSS is highest in the stenosis and carina regions. OSI values are greater in the post-stenotic LAD and LCx regions where recirculation and plaque development are more likely. Helical flow appears in the post-stenotic region of the LM when velocity is lowest and in the stenotic area when velocity is highest.