A Computational Fluid Dynamics Study to Compare Two Types of Arterial Cannulae for Cardiopulmonary Bypass

Thanks to recent technological and IT advances, there have been rapid developments in biomedical and health research applications of computational fluid dynamics. This is a methodology of computer-based simulation that uses numerical solutions of the governing equations to simulate real fluid flows. The aim of this study is to investigate, using a patient-specific computational fluid dynamics analysis, the hemodynamic behavior of two arterial cannulae, with two different geometries, used in clinical practice during cardiopulmonary bypass. A realistic 3D model of the aorta is extracted from a subject’s CT images using segmentation and reverse engineering techniques. The two cannulae, with similar geometry except for the distal end (straight or curved tip), are modeled and inserted at the specific position in the ascending aorta. The assumption of equal boundary conditions is adopted for the two simulations in order to analyze only the effects of a cannula’s geometry on hemodynamic behavior. Simulation results showed a greater percentage of the total output directed towards the supra-aortic vessels with the curved tip cannula (66% vs. 54%), demonstrating that the different cannula tips geometry produces specific advantages during cardiopulmonary bypass. Indeed, the straight one seems to generate a steadier flow pattern with good recirculation in the ascending aorta.