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Journal of Clinical Medicine Research

Original Article

Volume 9, Number 1, January 2017, pages 40-45

Feasibility Study of Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulation of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography Based on Dual-Source Computed Tomography

Hemodynamic changes led by atherosclerotic lesions in coronary arteries, such as intravascular pressure blood flow gradient changes and coronary flow reserve changes, are closely related to myocardial ischemia. Monitoring hemodynamic changes can guide revascularization, thus leading the maximum benefits to patients and avoiding adverse outcomes. It is more significant to evaluate hemodynamic changes than morphological changes only. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is an interdisciplinary of computer technology and fluid physics. Fluid dynamics parameters within coronary arteries, including blood pressure distribution, wall shear stress (WSS) distribution and velocity distribution, can be derived by combining coronary artery three-dimensional data, which were obtained by computed tomography (CT) scans, with CFD. Adding functional features to morphological features offers a new method for non-invasive assessment of myocardial perfusion [1]. The main purpose of this study was to explore technical routes of assessing the left coronary artery pressure gradient, WSS distribution and blood flow velocity distribution, combining three-dimensional coronary model which was based on high-resolution dual-source CT with CFD simulation.

This was a retrospective study enrolled with three patients who underwent dual-source coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) between March and April in 2014. Case 1 was a 35-year-old male patient with no obvious stenosis in the left anterior descending (LAD). Case 2 was a 65-year-old male patient with mild stenosis in the LAD (a stenosis of 20% in the proximal-middle segments of LAD diagnosed by CCTA). Case 3 was a 60-year-old male patient with severe stenosis in the LAD (a stenosis of 90% in the proximal segments of LAD diagnosed by CCTA, Fig. 1).

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Figure 1. Patient of case 3 was male and 60 years old. CCTA showed severe stenosis of 90% in the proximal segments of LAD.

CCTA was performed by using retrospective electrocardiographic gating and dual-source CT (Siemens Somatom Definition, Germany). The scan was acquired during injection of 70 mL of Lomeprol (Bracco) at 4.0 mL/s, followed by 40 mL of saline at the same rate. Scans were automatically triggered by using bolus tracking when the contrast attenuation reached 100 HU in the ascending aorta. Scan parameters were as follows: tube current, 300 - 500 mA depending on body mass index and tube voltage both fixed at 120 kV. Oral b-blockers were administered by targeting a heart rate of less than 75 beats per minute, and sublingual nitrates were administered immediately before the scan to optimize coronary vasodilatation.

Two methods were used to build three-dimensional luminal model of the left coronary arteries. CCTA data used for geometry construction corresponded to end-diastole. The first method was to input complete original axial images into software Mimics 10.01 (Materialise, Belgium) and extract soft tissues to build complete coronaries artery model by identifying gray scales. Then the left coronary arteries model was kept only. The second one was to rebuild axial images as follows: field of view (FOV) 200 × 200 mm, the left coronary arteries only without chambers or myocardium, and then generate the model in software Mimics directly (Fig. 2).

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Figure 2. Patient of case 3 was male and 60 years old. Three-dimensional luminal model of the left coronary arteries was generated in software Mimics. Inlet was defined as entry of flow. Out-1 to Out-11 were set as free flow boundary.

The three-dimensional model was input into software ICEMCFD 12.0 (ANSYS, USA) for grid generation. Five kinds of densities of mesh were undertaken to test the relationship between overall numbers of grid and computation which was described in a graph: overall numbers as abscissa and pressure descending of the LAD as ordinate (Fig. 3a, b). The total number of grid ranged from about 240,000 to 4,660,000, and part of the diagram is shown in Figure 3 (case 2 as the example). It turned out that computation was more accurate with more numbers of grids. So choosing the minimum numbers of grids which would not change computation could raise efficiency and guarantee veracity.

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Figure 3. Part of the diagram of five kinds of densities of mesh of case 2 (a). The total number of grid ranged from about 240,000 to 4,660,000. The relationship between overall numbers of grid and computation which was described in a graph (b): overall numbers as abscissa and pressure descending of the LAD as ordinate. Pressure gradient change was in line with the trend of overall numbers of grid and differences were getting smaller.

According to the graph of coronary arteries flow changes during cardiac cycle which was reported by Chaichana et al, quantity of flow of the entry of the left coronary artery (Inlet) was determined (Fig. 4) [2]. The exports were set as free flow boundary (Out-1 to 11), and the flow allocation was determined by diameter of each export depending on Murray law [3]. The following assumptions were made as such [4-6]: 1) the vessel walls were smooth, rigid and non-porous; 2) the blood was considered incompressible, Newtonian fluid obeying Navier-Stokes equations; 3) the blood viscosity was 0.0035 Pas, and blood density equaled 1,060 kg/m³; and 4) the flow was unsteady laminar. After grid division and setting boundary conditions, the left coronary arteries model was imported into software FLUENT 12.0 (ANSYS, USA) to simulate flow pressure gradient (the entry was one), WSS distribution and blood flow velocity distribution of the LAD. Pseudo-color images were generated in the end.

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Figure 4. The graph of coronary arteries flow changes during cardiac cycle was reported by Chaichana et al [2]: time as abscissa (s) and quantity of flow as ordinate (mL/min). Flow of the entry of the left coronary artery (inlet) at different moment could be acquired.

The three segments of LAD (proximal, middle and distal segment) were divided into three parts averagely and severally, and then mean values of each segment were computed according to simulation and CT values, excluding luminal wall, plaques or calcifications. Flow pressure gradient and CT values of both ends of stenosis of cases 2 and 3 were recorded. Coronary enhancement ratio (CER) was CT values above mentioned/CT values of aortic root.

It took 30 h with first method and 10 h with second method in reconstructing three-dimensional luminal model in software Mimics. Pressure gradient changes were in line with the trend of overall numbers of grid and differences were getting smaller. In case 2, it had little effect on computation with total number of more than 2,880,000. So the forth result of mesh was determined.

CFD simulations of the LAD included pressure gradient which was the coronary artery pressure relative to the entry (Fig. 5a1-a2), WSS distribution (Fig. 5b1-b2) and blood flow velocity distribution (Fig. 5c1-c2), which were all described with color gradation. Blue meant low values and red was high values. There was little descending in the pressure gradient of cases 1 and 2. But compared to the normal left circumflex artery (LCA), the descending in the pressure gradient of case 3 between both ends of stenosis of LAD was large. WSS values in lumen without plaques or stenosis in three cases were low and uniform. At regions opposite to the flow divider, dominant low WSS values occurred. In case 3, WSS values of severe stenosis were higher. Blood flow velocity distributed uniformly in the LAD of cases 1 and 2, and center axial flow was faster than border flow. Blood flow velocity gradient barely changed in the stenosis segment of case 2. But there was obvious variation in LAD of case 3: acceleration of flow velocity on both ends of stenosis, the fastest flow velocity in the center of stenosis and obvious turbulence after end of stenosis.

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Figure 5. Pressure distribution simulated diagram of cases 2 and 3 (the entry was one) (a1-a2). There was little descending in the pressure gradient of case 2. But the descending in the color difference which was pressure gradient of case 3 between proximal and distal of stenosis of LAD was large. Noteworthy reduction of pressure was observed in the distal segment of left septal branch of case 2. It showed the WSS distribution simulated diagram of cases 2 and 3 (Pa) (b1-b2). WSS values in lumen without plaques or stenosis were low and uniform. At regions opposite to the flow divider, dominant low WSS values occurred. In case 3, WSS values of severe stenosis were higher. It showed the flow velocity distribution simulated diagram of cases 2 and 3 (m/s) (c1-c2). Blood flow velocity distributed uniformly in the LAD, and center axial flow was faster than border flow. Blood flow velocity gradient barely changed in the stenosis segment of case 2. But there was obvious variation in LAD of case 3: acceleration of flow velocity on both ends of stenosis, the fastest flow velocity in the center of stenosis, obvious turbulence after end of stenosis.

Table 1 lists the mean values of flow pressure gradient and CER in the LAD of three cases. Differences of pressure gradient and CER values between both ends of severe stenosis of case 3 were larger than mild stenosis of case 2.

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Table 1. Comparison of the Mean Values of Flow Pressure Gradient and CER in the LAD of Three Cases (x ± s)

The difference of time between two methods in building three-dimensional luminal model was large, indicating that it shortened much time with partial axial images and simplified the process. Choosing appropriate numbers of grid which guarantee quality of computation would shorten process too. Compared to FFR_CT which was based on super computers in DICOVER-FLOW and DeFACTO study [7, 8], this study applied workstation with relevant softwares and cost lower. What mentioned above had better clinical practicability.

The trends of flow pressure gradient and CER values of LAD of three cases were roughly same. It detected pressure difference between both ends of stenosis of case 3 in CFD simulation sensitively, which was in line with CER values of corresponding segments. It was reported that CER values were significantly different between both ends of stenosis of more than 50% by Nagao et al [8, 9]. According to Steigner et al and Wong et al, CT values gradient in coronary arteries could predict myocardial ischemia related to stenosis [10, 11]. Thus, CFD simulation might predict myocardial ischemia too and show it to clinicians and patients with pseudo-color images intuitively. Noteworthy reduction of pressure was observed in the distal segment of left septal branch of case 2 because of direct oppression from myocardium and high resistance. Besides, colors of left main coronary artery and LAD were inconformity in the two cases shown in Figure 5a1-a2. The reason was lack of revision of pseudo color of case 3. It would not affect evaluation of pressure gradient but it did remind researchers to avoid similar bias in follow-up work.

WSS distribution in coronary arteries was related to force at points of bifurcation. Low WSS values occurred at regions opposite to the flow divider. Low WSS values were possibly correlated to the localization of atherosclerotic lesions. And the distribution was in accordance with the localization of atherosclerotic lesions in this area. High curvature and severe stenosis affected the velocity distribution at the flow divider, giving rise to high WSS values, which led to hemorrhage and rupture in atherosclerotic lesions [6, 12, 13].

The assumption made about the nature of the flow was that it was incompressible Newtonian fluid according to studies domestic and overseas at present. Some researchers underwent studies to compare Newtonian fluid models and non-Newtonian fluid models which reported similar WSS distributions and different velocity distributions. As non-Newtonian fluid model, axial velocity at curve regions tended to be more gentle, limiting diffusion of contrast agent [4, 14-17]. Thus in this study measurement of CER values at curve regions might be affected. Even so, the study offered technical assistance to CFD simulation of non-Newtonian fluid model and flexible vessel walls.

CCTA images based on dual-source CT were acquired during several cardiac cycles. In follow-up studies, 320-detector row CT will be used to get time-uniformity coronary arteries images. Thus measurement of CT values gradient can be more accurate. But its temporal resolution is low so it requires lower heart rates during examination. With a heart rate of less than 70 beats per minute, the scan can be accomplished in one cardiac cycle which means time-uniformity. Otherwise it needs to scan two or more cycles and multi-sectors reconstructions to improve resolution, with more time of exposure and radiation dose [18].

The study verified essential parameters and basic techniques in blood flow numerical simulation preliminarily. Results conformed to theoretical values and showed difference between normal and abnormal samples. The study was proved feasible.

This study had limitations. Parameters were assumptions according to theories and short of actual measurement including initial conditions, flow distribution ratio and outflow boundary conditions. Three-dimensional luminal model of the left coronary arteries were not reconstructed with multi-phases limiting to temporal resolution. Results of three cases were not validated by pressure wire. Patients were scanned under resting state in this study. However, Chow et al [19] reported that CT values gradient might be more sensitive and precise under stressing state, which will be solved in follow-up studies.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

Funding Support

The study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81271570).

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Journal of Clinical Medicine Research is published by Elmer Press Inc.