Numerical simulation of hemodynamics in membranous obstruction of the suprahepatic inferior vena cava based on a subject-specific Budd-Chiari syndrome model.

BACKGROUND

This study was performed to determine the hemodynamic changes of Budd-Chiari syndrome when the inferior vena vein membrane is developing.

METHODS

A patient-specific Budd-Chiari syndrome vascular model was reconstructed based on magnetic resonance images using Mimics software and different degrees (16%, 37%, and 54%) of idealized membrane were built based on the Budd-Chiari syndrome vascular model using Geomagic software. Three membrane obstruction Budd-Chiari syndrome vascular models were established successfully and fluent software was used to simulate hemodynamic parameters, including blood velocity and wall shear stress.

FINDINGS

The simulation results showed that there is low velocity and a low wall shear stress region at the junction of the inferior vena cava and the branches of the hepatic veins, and swirl may occur in this area. As the membrane develops, the size of the low velocity and low wall shear stress regions enlarged and the wall shear stress was increased at the membrane region. There was a significant difference in the mean values of wall shear stress between the different obstruction membrane models (P<0.05).

INTERPRETATION

Hemodynamic parameters play an important role in vascular disease and there may be a correlation between inferior vena cava wall shear force changes and the slow development process of the inferior vena cava membrane.