Fig. 4

Distribution of WSS values and flow profiles in different flow patterns. a + b) depicts a patient with a conventional tube prosthesis developing a secondary helix in the ascending aorta. In the analysis plane shown in b), the local acceleration of flow at the outer curvature can be seen in the scalar map (c) resulting in large regional differences in wall shear stress (WSS) and a relatively high WSS gradient. In contrast, the healthy subject e) + f) shows a laminar, evenly distributed flow profile (g) and low WSS gradient (h). Flow was visualized in both subjects with 3D streamlines, color-coded with respect to flow velocity (V [cm/s])