The fluid mechanics of aortic stenosis—II. Unsteady flow experiments

Abstract

Pulsating flow experiments with a laboratory model simulating aortic stenosis in man are described. Measured values of pressure difference across a nozzle representing the valve and of recovered pressure downstream of the nozzle show good agreement with the theory given in Paper I. Data recorded from a dog with an artificially induced stenosis also support the general form of the theory. Velocity measurements in the dog aorta and the model clearly demonstrate the different regions of flow produced by stenosis. Possible clinical applications of the work are discussed including the calculation of aortic valve area.