Influence of Atherosclerosis on Haemodynamics: A Comparison of Healthy and Stenosed Patient Specific Carotid Artery

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is one major cause of morbidity caused by the progress of atherosclerosis without any symptoms and has a high risk of Transient Ischemic Stroke (TIS). The carotid bifurcation and bulb are the region where the blood flow is irregular, which may lead to the progression of the plague. The flow disruption due to stenosis in idealised carotid artery has been extensively investigated using Fluid Structure interaction (FSI). However, the haemodynamic of patient specific carotid artery has been intensively studied. In this study, a comparison of blood flow in healthy and stenosed (80% blockage in the carotid bulb region) was carried out using Two-way FSI analysis considering non-Newtonian blood viscosity and isotropic property for vessel wall. Haemodynamic parameters such as velocity streamline, pressure, vorticity, helicity, Time-Averaged Wall shear stress (TAWSS) and Oscillatory Shear Index (OSI) were analysed along with structural parameters such as wall displacement and von Mises stress. The comparison between healthy and stenosed arteries reveals that stenosis significantly increases the velocity magnitude due to the reduced flow area caused by plaque buildup. This narrowing also results in elevated pressure upstream of the stenosis. In both healthy and stenosed arteries, maximum deformation occurs near the bifurcation at the left and right lateral sections, with the highest von Mises Stress located near the internal wall of the flow divider. In stenosed arteries, the stress magnitude is six times higher than in healthy arteries, illustrating the profound effect stenosis has on haemodynamic. Overall, the analysis emphasizes how stenosis disrupts normal blood flow and alters bio-fluid dynamics in the carotid artery.