Cfd Modelling of Blood Flow in Portal Vein Hypertension with and without Thrombosis

In this study we have examined blood flow in a model of the portal vein with and without obstructions to simulate conditions, which are common in liver diseases. We evaluated the impact of both conditions on the flow behaviour and found significant differences in the two models. Blockages, even when the flow conditions did not change, had an impact on the velocity magnitude, pressure, strain rate and shear stress in a model of portal vein hypertension due to liver diseases. NOMENCLATURE k consistency index u velocity τ shear stress μ viscosity INTRODUCTION Portal hypertension is one of the major complications in patients with diseases of the liver, such as liver cirrhosis, veno-occlusive disease, idiopathic extrahepatic portal vein obstruction and pre-hepatic portal idiopathic pathology. Portal hypertension is a build up pressure in the portal vein, usually just before it enters the liver. Thus, there is a significant reduction of the blood flow to the liver, which causes diminished blood supply to the liver and reduction of normal liver function. In this study we have used CFD to examine blood flow in a model of portal vein hypertension. We have compared flow with idealized thrombosis and without thrombosis, with the expectation that blockages would affect blood flow.