A PARAMETRIC NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF LOCAL HAEMODYNAMICS IN THE END-TO-SIDE ANASTOMOSIS OF CERVICAL-TO-PETROUS BYPASS BASED ON REAL GEOMETRY OF INTERNAL CAROTID ARTERY

Abstract

Bypass reconstructed from the cervical segment of internal carotid artery (ICA) to its petrous segment allows high-volume bypass flow without any risk of intracranial dissection. The purpose of this study was to investigate the geometric effect on the end-to-side anastomosis of cervical-to-petrous bypass, for its close relationship to local haemodynamic and the long-term performance of bypass. We focused on two controllable geometric parameters: diameter ratio (Φ) and angle (α) between the graft and host arteries. Different models covering a range of Φ (0.75, 1 and 1.25) and α (30°, 45°, 60° and 90°) were constructed based on real geometry of human ICA. Numerical simulations of blood flow were performed in physiological flow condition. The flow patterns, flow distributions, time-average wall shear stress (TAWSS) and oscillatory shear index (OSI) in different models were compared. Our results showed geometric factors have influence on both the local haemodynamic parameters and the flow velocity through downstream branches. Of models with different geometric parameters, the model with Φ ≥ 1 or α = 45° were the most optimized considering haemodynamic performance.