Flow downstream of partially blocked stented cardiac arteries

Abstract

Intravascular stents play a major role in restoring the patency in atherosclerotic coronary arteries. However restenosis occurs in an artery after certain period of time. In order to obtain the consequences of various problems associated with the implantation of stent in a multiple blocked artery, an analysis is done at the blockage of artery downstream the stented region. The present paper analyzes blood flow downstream of partially blocked stented artery at different levels of blockages. The blockage rate is taken as thirty, fifty and sixty percentage of the stented artery. Velocity, flow rate and pressure drop at the blocked artery are simulated using the CFD software. The analysis illustrates an increment in velocity and pressure drop at the blockage with increase in velocity, pressure and mass flow rate at the inlet. The maximum velocity of blood in stented arteries at high percentage of blockage is more when compared to the lower ones. Due to the increase in pressure at inlet, the mass flow rate increased at the blockage downstream stented artery. The values for pressure obtained at blockage are decreasing which are in contrast to the velocity and pressure drop values at the blockage. The pressure drop at the blockage analyzes the blood pressure level in the artery which can be used for future optimizations and modifications during and after the stent implantation.