Computational investigation of disease-conducive flow conditions in the venous valve sinus

While venous valves are critical to proper function of the circulatory system, they are also the most common locations of origination of venous thromboembolism (VTE). VTE, which comprises deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE), is a leading cause of death in the United States, especially for those who are immobile for extended periods of time (such as for hospitalization or long haul plane rides). Here, we use a three-dimensional (3-D) fully-coupled fluid-solid interaction (FSI) model to investigate the effect of venous valve 3-D shape and stiffness on flow conditions. Specifically, we consider flow conditions such as fluid stasis, high residence time, and low shear stress, which are thought to be important in thrombus formation. Our findings will help in increasing understanding of this disease, and represent an important step in determining how to better identify hospital patients at high risk for VTE, which is highly preventable if appropriate measures are taken.