In vivo validation of a one-dimensional finite element method for simulation-based medical planning for cardiovascular bypass surgery

Current practice in vascular surgery utilizes only diagnostic and empirical data to plan treatments, and does not enable quantitative a priori prediction of the outcomes of interventions. We have previously described simulation-based medical planning methods to model blood flow in arteries and plan medical treatments based on physiologic models. These methods utilize computationally intensive three-dimensional finite element analysis. We recently described a new method for simulation-based medical planning based on solving one-dimensional equations of blood flow. We demonstrate herein that these one-dimensional methods can be used to simulate blood flow in a porcine thoraco-thoraco bypass and further that predicted flow rates compare favorably to in vivo data obtained using cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging in four pigs.