Simulation of oxygen transfer in stented arteries and correlation with in-stent restenosis

05/2013

Simulation of oxygen transfer in stented arteries and correlation with in-stent restenosis

Saturday 16th February 2013

Caputo, M.; Chiastra, C.; Cianciolo, C.; Cutri , E.; Dubini, G.; Gunn, J.; Keller, B.; Zunino, P.;

Computational models are used to study the combined effect of biomechanical and biochemical factors on coronary in-stent restenosis, which is a post-operative remodeling and regrowth of the stented artery tissue. More precisely, we address numerical simulations based on Navier-Stokes and mass transport equations to study the role of perturbed wall shear stresses and reduced oxygen concentration in a geometrical model reconstructed from a real porcine artery treated with a stent. Joining emph{in vivo} and emph{in silico} tools of investigation has multiple benefits in this case. On one hand, the geometry of the arterial wall and of the stent closely correspond to a real implanted configuration. On the other hand, the inspection of histological tissue samples informs us on the location and intensity of in-stent restenosis. As a result of that, we are able to correlate geometrical factors, such as the axial variation of the artery diameter and its curvature, the numerical quantification of biochemical stimuli, such as wall shear stresses, and the availability of oxygen to the inner layers of the artery, with the appearance of in-stent restenosis. This study shows that the perturbation of the vessel curvature could induce hemodynamic conditions that stimulate an undesired arterial remodeling.