Computer Simulation of Pressure-Flow in Aorta and Aortic Coarctation

Abstract

With the method of characteristics, pulsatile pressure and velocity pulses are computed in a tapered and non-branching distensible tube simulating the aorta. The elastic modulus of the tube is assumed to vary spatially and with pressure. The relationship of pressure and diameter is an exponential function similar to the observed tension-length diagram. The model is also applied to a constricted tube simulating coarctation of aorta. Calculations show an alteration of pressure and velocity pulses distal to the stenosis.