Analysis of haemodynamic factors involved in carotid atherosclerosis using computational fluid dynamics

Atherosclerosis presents a massive healthcare burden in both the developing and developed world. There is mounting evidence relating to the involvement of haemodynamic factors in the pathogenesis of this process. This article aims to review the current understandings that have developed in this area, and to present a demonstrative case study obtained using state of the art computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology to model and analyse haemodynamic factors within the atheromatous carotid artery bifurcation.