A Finite Element CFD Simulation for Predicting Patient-Specific Hemodynamics of an Aortic Coarctation

This paper presents a numerical simulation of the flow characteristics through a patient-specific model of an aortic coarctation. The purpose of the study was to predict the pressure gradient at rest and at exercise conditions. The commercial package ADINA was used to numerically solve the governing equations using finite-elements methods. The model was based on the patient's MR angiography data. The boundary conditions imposed in the model included the flow and pressure waveforms acquired at the ascending aorta inlet and flow at the descending aorta outlet. Imposed flow waveforms at the supra-aortic vessels were estimated from the time-dependent difference between the ascending and descending aorta waveforms, and the flow distribution was dictated according to the total flow rates at each branch. The simulations considered two cases of rest and stress flow conditions. The time-dependent pressure in the proximal and distal planes and pressure gradients along the aorta are reported for rest and stress conditions.