Hemodynamic Alterations Associated with Coronary and Cerebral Arterial Remodeling Following a Surgically-Induced Aortic Coarctation

Computational models promise to aid in the interpretation of the coupled interactions between evolving wall geometry, structure, material properties and hemodynamics seen in arterial adaptations. Motivated by recent aortic coarctation models in animals, we used a computational fluid-solid-interaction model to study possible local and systemic effects on the hemodynamics within the thoracic aorta and coronary, carotid, and cerebral arteries due to a distal aortic coarctation and subsequent spatial variations in wall adaptation. In particular, we studied an initial stage of acute cardiac compensation (maintenance of cardiac output) followed by early arterial wall remodeling (spatially varying wall thickening and stiffening).