Analysis of thrombus formation on wall surface in Paravalvular leak models

PVL (Paravalvular Leak) is blood leak from the gap between artificial valve and aorta, and it is considered to be one of thrombosis risks in TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation). In our previous study, thrombus formation was visualized at the cross-section of PVL models with large or small gaps. And it was found that thrombus formation rate is high on the large gap. In this study, thrombus formation was visualized on the inner surface of the PVL models, and the type of thrombus (red thrombus and white thrombus) was recognized by image processing. As a result, it was found that the white thrombus was mainly generated around the PVL models regardless of the gap size. It was suggested that the flow around the PVL models is high shear flow, therefore white thrombus is generated around the PVL models by platelet activation. In addition, it was also found that the white thrombus was rapidly generated around the large gap. This result has same trend as the previous study, and it was expected that more platelets are activated in the large gap.