Analytical study on the turbulent shear-induced hemolysis and platelet activation downstream of mechanical heart valves

Mechanical heart valves (MHVs) are widely implanted to replace the diseased heart valves. The performance of these valves strongly is limited by complications such as hemolysis and platelet activation. Abnormal flow patterns and turbulence generated by MHVs are the major reasons of these problems. Thus a better understanding of MHV hemodynamics is very important. In the present study, a simplified analytical approach is proposed to predict turbulent shear-induced hemolysis and platelet activation downstream of mechanical heart valves. This theoretical model was validated with such available in vivo experimental results where a good agreement was found. Therefore the present model provides a new insight into the behavior of turbulent Reynolds stresses downstream of the various mechanical heart valves and estimates them accurately without any extra computational or experimental cost.