Results of Numerical Modeling of Blood Flow in the Internal Jugular Vein Exhibiting Different Types of Strictures
The clinical relevance of nozzle-like strictures in upper parts of the internal jugular veins remains unclear. This study was aimed at understanding flow disturbances caused by such stenoses. Computational fluid dynamics software, COMSOL Multiphysics, was used. Two-dimensional computational domain involved stenosis at the beginning of modeled veins, and a flexible valve downstream. The material of the venous valve was considered to be hyperelastic. In the vein models with symmetric 2-leaflets valve without upstream stenosis or with minor 30% stenosis, the flow was undisturbed. In the case of major 60% and 75% upstream stenosis, centerline velocity was positioned asymmetrically, and areas of…
Abnormal jugular valves are not the sole explanation of an impaired outflow from the cranial cavity through the internal jugular veins: results of in silico studies
Background. Currently, pathological jugular valves are thought to be the main cause of altered hemodynamics in the internal jugular veins, the so-called chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency. The alternative interpretation of flow disturbances in these veins is that the main source of abnormal outflow are nozzle-like strictures in their upper parts, at the level or just below the jugular foramen, for example, caused by an enlarged transverse process of the atlas and/or styloid process of the temporal bone.1 These in silico studies were aimed at validation of this hypothesis.
 Methods. With the use of computational fluid mechanics software: the Flowsquare+ and the COMSOL multiphysi…