BACKGROUND: The traditionally used perfusion method is constant flow. This study proposes a novel method called Symmetric Pulsating Flow (SPF) and verified that this method is applicable.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The fluid dynamic behavior of perfusate in the vessel, the shear stress, and the vascular deformation were simulated based on the bi-directional fluid-structure interaction. The differences of the fluid dynamic behaviors and the mechanical characteristics of vascular wall were studied and compared between the 2 methods during the process of hepatic perfusion. The simulations and comparisons were carried out on 3 different vascular models.

RESULTS: Utilizing the constant flow perfusion, a double vortex clearly appeared at the rear end of the foreign matter and reflux retention can be caused by the double vortex. The reflux retention caused lower shear stress against the vascular wall and thus brought new accumulation of foreign matter. The SPF perfusion, however, prevented the double vortex, and avoided such reflux retention during the vascular perfusion. In addition, the SPF can clean the vascular wall better with a slower speed, which causes less injury to the vessel, and the pulsating effect can reduce the accumulation of new foreign matter.

CONCLUSIONS: The SPF perfusion can clean the vascular wall more thoroughly with less injury.

Keywords: hydrodynamics, Liver Transplantation, Pulsatile Flow, Biomechanical Phenomena, Computer Simulation, Donor Selection, Hemorheology, Humans, Liver, Liver Circulation, Models, Biological, Organ Preservation, Perfusion, Tissue and Organ Harvesting, Tomography, X-Ray Computed