Hemodynamic flow characteristics at stenosed artery: Numerical analysis of three-dimensional patient-specific aortic–cerebral vasculature exposed to progressive carotid stenosis

Progression of carotid stenosis (CS) significantly reduces blood flow in the affected arteries and alters both proximal distal hemodynamics. While conventional studies consider only region for analysis, an extended larger arterial domain aortic–cerebral vasculature is used to avoid artificial modeling inlet condition facilitate automatic redistribution during CS progression. The fluid was constructed simulated using open-source package SimVascular, three patient models with five cases each were created medical images. Newtonian, incompressible, rigid-wall conditions assumed because high computational burden, boundary lumped Windkessel pulsatile rate implemented outlets inlet, respectively. We present a novel index called circulation core fraction (CCF) quantify visualize stenosis-driven hemodynamics; CCF developed from benchmark backward-facing step problem compares representative recirculation total volume. Thus, post-stenotic increases progression regardless patient-specific features whereas that pre-stenotic exhibits nature despite incremental tendency. Streamlines custom sources show helical vortex artery-wise streams vary also report transitional patterns pulsatility (PI) contours Q-criterion, where PI values shift high–low–high high–low–low across stenosis, latter nearly absent at 0% 95% but mostly 50% 75% CS.