Computational Fluid Dynamics Modeling of Mesenteric Arteries for Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia Diagnosis

Master Thesis (2025)
Author(s)

S.V. Zetzsche (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)

Contributor(s)

S. Priola – Mentor (TU Delft - Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology)

F.J.H. Gijsen – Mentor (TU Delft - Medical Instruments & Bio-Inspired Technology)

W.J. Hogendoorn – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Complex Fluid Processing)

D. Leemreis-van Noord – Graduation committee member (Erasmus MC)

Faculty
Mechanical Engineering
More Info
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Publication Year
2025
Language
English
Graduation Date
15-07-2025
Awarding Institution
Delft University of Technology
Programme
['Mechanical Engineering | BioMechanical Design']
Faculty
Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

Accurate diagnosis of Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia (CMI) requires a comprehensive understanding of both anatomical and hemodynamic factors affecting mesenteric blood flow. This study employed Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations to assess blood flow in the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) under varying conditions. Simulations on idealized geometries demonstrated the significant impact of hyperemia on flow dynamics in stenosed vessels, particularly in moderate stenosis. The presence of a collateral vessel from a patent celiac artery (CA) was shown to enhance distal SMA perfusion and reduce pressure gradients. A patient-specific computational workflow was also developed, incorporating CT-based segmentation, boundary condition setup, simulation, and post-processing. Results underscore that anatomical stenosis severity alone is insufficient to determine the functional significance of an SMA lesion. Instead, patient-specific hemodynamics, especially the presence and configuration of collateral pathways, must be considered. While promising, these findings require further validation with larger patient datasets.
link to dataset:
https://doi.org/10.4121/845085c4-9999-41bd-8a4f-02cbdea61164

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