Fractional flow reserve derived through computational fluid dynamics: a non-invasive diagnostic measure to assess the importance of various arterial stenotic diseases

Blood supply to different organs and tissues of the body can be reduced as a result of the narrowing of the feeding blood vessels. Depending on the size and location of the lesions (plaques) that cause the narrowing of the blood vessels, the function of the organs/tissues may be impaired and will require intervention (removal of the plaques). In this proposal, we will use computational models to predict the severity of blood flow reduction caused by individual plaques. These models will use the information provided by medical imaging (computed tomography, CT and magnetic resonance imaging, MRI) and compute patient-specific blood flow patterns using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). We will study different disease patterns in vascular beds, specifically the common femoral artery at the groin, the visceral arterial branches of the abdominal aorta supplying the gastrointestinal tract and the renal arteries supplying the kidneys. The information provided by computational modelling will provide a robust prediction of the severity of the individual lesions. Clinicians will be able to include this novel diagnostic method into individual treatment plans, with a potential to increase treatment effectiveness and reduce overall treatment cost.