A one-dimensional finite element method for simulation-based medical planning for cardiovascular disease

Comput Methods Biomech Biomed Engin. 2002 Jun;5(3):195-206. doi: 10.1080/10255840290010670.

Abstract

We have previously described a new approach to planning treatments for cardiovascular disease, Simulation-Based Medical Planning, whereby a physician utilizes computational tools to construct and evaluate a combined anatomic/physiologic model to predict the outcome of alternative treatment plans for an individual patient. Current systems for Simulation-Based Medical Planning utilize finite element methods to solve the time-dependent, three-dimensional equations governing blood flow and provide detailed data on blood flow distribution, pressure gradients and locations of flow recirculation, low wall shear stress and high particle residence. However, these methods are computationally expensive and often require hours of time on parallel computers. This level of computation is necessary for obtaining detailed information about blood flow, but likely is unnecessary for obtaining information about mean flow rates and pressure losses. We describe, herein, a space-time finite element method for solving the one-dimensional equations of blood flow. This method is applied to compute flow rate and pressure in a single segment model, a bifurcation, an idealized model of the abdominal aorta, in three alternate treatment plans for a case of aorto-iliac occlusive disease and in a vascular bypass graft. All of these solutions were obtained in less than 5 min of computation time on a personal computer.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aorta, Abdominal / physiopathology
  • Aorta, Abdominal / surgery
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / physiopathology
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / surgery
  • Blood Flow Velocity
  • Blood Viscosity
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / physiopathology*
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / surgery*
  • Carotid Artery, Common / physiopathology
  • Carotid Artery, Common / surgery
  • Computer Simulation*
  • Constriction, Pathologic / physiopathology
  • Constriction, Pathologic / surgery
  • Coronary Artery Bypass
  • Femoral Artery / physiopathology
  • Femoral Artery / surgery
  • Finite Element Analysis
  • Foot / blood supply
  • Foot / physiopathology
  • Hemodynamics
  • Humans
  • Models, Cardiovascular*
  • Nonlinear Dynamics
  • Patient Care Planning*
  • Planning Techniques
  • Popliteal Artery / physiopathology
  • Popliteal Artery / surgery
  • Preoperative Care / methods
  • Pressure
  • Pulsatile Flow
  • Quality Control
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Swine
  • Therapy, Computer-Assisted / methods*
  • Thoracic Arteries / physiopathology
  • Thoracic Arteries / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Wound Healing / physiology