The impact of different degrees of stenosis on platelet deposition in the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery.

Background And Objective: This study aimed to investigate the impact of different stenotic degrees on platelet deposition in the left anterior descending branch of the coronary artery.

Methods: The idealized model of coronary artery stenosis of 30 %, 40 %, 50 %, 60 %, 70 % and four patient-specific models of 22.17 %, 34.88 %, 51.23 % and 62.96 % were established. A discrete phase model was used to calculate the deposition of platelet particles in blood.

Results: (1) As the stenotic degree increased from 30 % to 70 %, the maximum deposition rates were 4.23e kg/(m ·s), 3.47e kg/(m ·s), 0.14 kg/(m ·s), 0.15 kg/(m ·s), and 0.38 kg/(m ·s), respectively. (2) The greater the stenotic degree, the more points of platelet deposition. (3) Platelets were mainly deposited at the proximal segment of mild stenosis. When the stenotic degree exceeded 50 %, the deposition position moved to the distal segment of the stenosis. (4) The results in the real coronary artery models were similar to those in the idealized model.

Conclusion: The study suggests that the location and number of platelet deposition are related to the degree of stenosis. Moderate to severe stenosis is more likely to spread downstream.