Do non-Newtonian blood viscosity models differ from Newtonian models in predicting hemodynamic parameters in carotid artery stenosis?
Non-Newtonian blood viscosity models provide more accurate hemodynamic predictions in moderate to severe carotid artery stenosis compared to Newtonian models, which is important for CFD-based patient-specific risk assessment.
This study systematically quantified the discrepancies between Newtonian and non-Newtonian blood viscosity models in predicting hemodynamic parameters across different degrees of carotid artery stenosis. Statistical analyses revealed significant differences between the two models in WSS, TAWSS, OSI, and RRT (p < 0.001 for all parameters). Newtonian models, while computationally efficient, overestimated TAWSS, OSI, and RRT while underestimating WSS, particularly in moderate to severe stenosis. In contrast, non-Newtonian models provided more physiologically accurate predictions, especially in regions with high shear stress variations. The results emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate viscosity models for CFD-based patient-specific risk assessment, particularly in stroke prediction, plaque evaluation, and surgical planning. Non-Newtonian models should be prioritized in high-risk patients where flow disturbances are more pronounced, whereas Newtonian models remain suitable for early screening and rapid assessments.
Liu et al. (Mon,) studied this question.