Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Three-Dimensional Hemodynamics in the Human Pulmonary Arteries Under Resting and Exercise Conditions

  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The biomechanical forces associated with blood flow have been shown to play a role in pulmonary vascular cell health and disease. Therefore, the quantification of human pulmonary artery hemodynamic conditions under resting and exercise states can be useful in investigating the physiology of disease development and treatment outcomes. In this study, a combined magnetic resonance imaging and computational fluid dynamics approach was used to quantify pulsatile flow fields, wall shear stress (WSS), oscillations in WSS (OSI), and energy efficiency in six subject-specific models of the human pulmonary vasculature with high spatial and temporal resolution. Averaging over all subjects, WSS was found to increase from 19.8 ± 4.0 to 51.8 ± 6.7 dynes/cm2, and OSI was found to decrease from 0.094 ± 0.016 to 0.081 ± 0.015 in the proximal pulmonary arteries between rest and exercise conditions (p < 0.05). These findings demonstrate the localized, biomechanical effects of exercise. Furthermore, an average decrease of 10% in energy efficiency was noted between rest and exercise. These data indicate the amount of energy dissipation that typically occurs with exercise and may be useful in future surgical planning applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 6
FIGURE 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Botney, M. D. Role of hemodynamics in pulmonary vascular remodeling: implications for primary pulmonary hypertension. Am. J. Respir. Crit. Care Med. 159:361–364, 1999.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Brooks, A. N., and T. J. R. Hughes. Streamline upwind/Petrov-Galerkin formulations for convection dominated flows with particular emphasis on the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 32:199–259, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Cheng, C. P., R. J. Herfkens, A. L. Lightner, C. A. Taylor, and J. A. Feinstein. Blood flow conditions in the proximal pulmonary arteries and vena cavae: healthy children during upright cycling exercise. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 287:H921–H926, 2004.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Cheng, C. P., R. J. Herfkens, C. A. Taylor, and J. A. Feinstein. Proximal pulmonary artery blood flow characteristics in healthy subjects measured in an upright posture using MRI: the effects of exercise and age. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 21:752–758, 2005.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. de Leval, M. R., G. Dubini, F. Migliavacca, H. Jalali, G. Camporini, A. Redington, and R. Pietrabissa. Use of computational fluid dynamics in the design of surgical procedures: application to the study of competitive flows in cavo-pulmonary connections. J. Thorac. Cardiovasc. Surg. 111:502–513, 1996.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Draney, M. T., M. A. Alley, B. T. Tang, N. M. Wilson, R. J. Herfkens, and C. A. Taylor. Importance of 3D nonlinear gradient corrections for quantitative analysis of 3D MR angiographic data. Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, Tenth Scientific Meeting and Exposition, 2002.

  7. Elkins, R. C., and W. R. Milnor. Pulmonary vascular response to exercise in the dog. Circ. Res. 29:591–599, 1971.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Figueroa, C. A., I. E. Vignon-Clementel, K. E. Jansen, T. J. R. Hughes, and C. A. Taylor. A coupled momentum method for modeling blood flow in three-dimensional deformable arteries. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 195:5685–5706, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gan, C. T., J. W. Lankhaar, N. Westerhof, J. T. Marcus, A. Becker, J. W. Twisk, A. Boonstra, P. E. Postmus, and A. Vonk-Noordegraaf. Noninvasively assessed pulmonary artery stiffness predicts mortality in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Chest 132:1906–1912, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. He, X., and D. N. Ku. Pulsatile flow in the human left coronary artery bifurcation: average conditions. J. Biomech. Eng. 118:74–82, 1996.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Jansen, K. E., C. H. Whiting, and G. M. Hulbert. A generalized-[alpha] method for integrating the filtered Navier–Stokes equations with a stabilized finite element method. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 190:305–319, 2000.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Johnson, L. R., J. W. Rush, J. R. Turk, E. M. Price, and M. H. Laughlin. Short-term exercise training increases ACh-induced relaxation and eNOS protein in porcine pulmonary arteries. J. Appl. Physiol. 90:1102–1110, 2001.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Khunatorn, Y., S. Mahalingam, C. G. DeGroff, and R. Shandas. Influence of connection geometry and SVC-IVC flow rate ratio on flow structures within the total cavopulmonary connection: a numerical study. J. Biomech. Eng. 124:364–377, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Khunatorn, Y., R. Shandas, C. DeGroff, and S. Mahalingam. Comparison of in vitro velocity measurements in a scaled total cavopulmonary connection with computational predictions. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 31:810–822, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ku, J. P., M. T. Draney, F. R. Arko, W. A. Lee, F. P. Chan, N. J. Pelc, C. K. Zarins, and C. A. Taylor. In vivo validation of numerical prediction of blood flow in arterial bypass grafts. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 30:743–752, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Kulik, T. J., J. L. Bass, B. P. Fuhrman, J. H. Moller, and J. E. Lock. Exercise induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Br. Heart J. 50:59–64, 1983.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Le Cras, T. D., R. C. Tyler, M. P. Horan, K. G. Morris, R. M. Tuder, I. F. McMurtry, R. A. Johns, and S. H. Abman. Effects of chronic hypoxia and altered hemodynamics on endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in the adult rat lung. J. Clin. Invest. 101:795–801, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Marsden, A. L., I. E. Vignon-Clementel, F. P. Chan, J. A. Feinstein, and C. A. Taylor. Effects of exercise and respiration on hemodynamic efficiency in CFD simulations of the total cavopulmonary connection. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 35:250–263, 2007.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Migliavacca, F., G. Dubini, E. L. Bove, and M. R. de Leval. Computational fluid dynamics simulations in realistic 3-D geometries of the total cavopulmonary anastomosis: the influence of the inferior caval anastomosis. J. Biomech. Eng. 125:805–813, 2003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Morgan, V. L., R. J. Roselli, and C. H. Lorenz. Normal three-dimensional pulmonary artery flow determined by phase contrast magnetic resonance imaging. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 26:557–566, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Morrison, T. M., G. Choi, C. K. Zarins, and C. A. Taylor. Circumferential and longitudinal cyclic strain of the human thoracic aorta: age-related changes. J. Vasc. Surg. 49:1029–1036, 2009.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Muller, J., O. Sahni, X. Li, K. E. Jansen, M. S. Shephard, and C. A. Taylor. Anisotropic adaptive finite element method for modelling blood flow. Comput. Methods Biomech. Biomed. Eng. 8:295–305, 2005.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Niezen, R. A., J. Doornbos, E. E. van der Wall, and A. de Roos. Measurement of aortic and pulmonary flow with MRI at rest and during physical exercise. J. Comput. Assist. Tomogr. 22:194–201, 1998.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Orlando, W., R. Shandas, and C. DeGroff. Efficiency differences in computational simulations of the total cavo-pulmonary circulation with and without compliant vessel walls. Comput. Methods Programs Biomed. 81:220–227, 2006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Perktold, K., R. Peter, M. Resch, and G. Langs. Pulsatile non-Newtonian flow in three-dimensional carotid bifurcation models: a numerical study of flow phenomena under different bifurcation angles. J. Biomed. Eng. 13:507–515, 1991.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Perktold, K., and G. Rappitsch. Computer simulation of local blood flow and vessel mechanics in a compliant carotid artery bifurcation model. J. Biomech. 28:845–856, 1995.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Sahni, O., J. Muller, K. E. Jansen, M. S. Shephard, and C. A. Taylor. Efficient anisotropic adaptive discretization of the cardiovascular system. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 195:5634–5655, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Shikata, Y., A. Rios, K. Kawkitinarong, N. DePaola, J. G. Garcia, and K. G. Birukov. Differential effects of shear stress and cyclic stretch on focal adhesion remodeling, site-specific FAK phosphorylation, and small GTPases in human lung endothelial cells. Exp. Cell Res. 304:40–49, 2005.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Tang, B. T., C. P. Cheng, M. T. Draney, N. M. Wilson, P. S. Tsao, R. J. Herfkens, and C. A. Taylor. Abdominal aortic hemodynamics in young healthy adults at rest and during lower limb exercise: quantification using image-based computer modeling. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 291:H668–H676, 2006.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Taylor, C. A., C. P. Cheng, L. A. Espinosa, B. T. Tang, D. Parker, and R. J. Herfkens. In vivo quantification of blood flow and wall shear stress in the human abdominal aorta during lower limb exercise. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 30:402–408, 2002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Taylor, C. A., T. J. R. Hughes, and C. K. Zarins. Finite element modeling of blood flow in arteries. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 158:155–196, 1998.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Taylor, C. A., T. J. R. Hughes, and C. K. Zarins. Finite element modeling of three-dimensional pulsatile flow in the abdominal aorta: relevance to atherosclerosis. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 26:1–14, 1998.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Vignon-Clementel, I. E., C. Alberto Figueroa, K. E. Jansen, and C. A. Taylor. Outflow boundary conditions for three-dimensional finite element modeling of blood flow and pressure in arteries. Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng. 195:3776–3796, 2006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Wang, K. C., R. W. Dutton, and C. A. Taylor. Level sets for vascular model construction in computational hemodynamics. IEEE Eng. Med. Biol. 18:33–39, 1999.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  35. Whiting, C. H., and K. E. Jansen. A stabilized finite element method for the incompressible Navier–Stokes equations using a hierarchical basis. Int. J. Numer. Methods Fluids 35:93–116, 2001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Wilson, N. M. Geometric algorithms and software architecture for computational prototyping: applications in vascular surgery and MEMS. Stanford, CA: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, 2002.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wilson, N. M., K. Wang, R. W. Dutton, and C. A. Taylor. A software framework for creating patient specific geometric models from medical imaging data for simulation based medical planning of vascular surgery. Lect. Notes Comput. Sci. 2208:449–456, 2001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Womersley, J. R. Method for the calculation of velocity, rate of flow and viscous drag in arteries when the pressure gradient is known. J. Physiol. 127:553–563, 1955.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. 0205741, the National Institutes of Health through the NIH Roadmap for Medical Research Grant U54 GM072970 and Grant P41 RR09784, the Vera Moulton Wall Center for Pulmonary Vascular Disease, and the Benchmark Capital Congenital Cardiovascular Bioengineering Fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Beverly T. Tang, Tim A. Fonte & Charles A. Taylor

  2. Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Frandics P. Chan

  3. Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Philip S. Tsao

  4. Department of Pediatrics – Cardiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA

    Jeffrey A. Feinstein

  5. Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Clark Center, E350, 318 Campus Dr., Stanford, CA, 94305-5431, USA

    Jeffrey A. Feinstein & Charles A. Taylor

Authors
  1. Beverly T. Tang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tim A. Fonte
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frandics P. Chan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Philip S. Tsao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jeffrey A. Feinstein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Charles A. Taylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Charles A. Taylor.

Additional information

Associate Editor Kerry Hourigan oversaw the review of this article.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tang, B.T., Fonte, T.A., Chan, F.P. et al. Three-Dimensional Hemodynamics in the Human Pulmonary Arteries Under Resting and Exercise Conditions. Ann Biomed Eng 39, 347–358 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-010-0124-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-010-0124-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation