Effect of carotid artery stenosis on neck skin tissue heat transfer

The buildup of plaque in the carotid artery leads to the narrowing of the arterial lumen, known as stenosis. Arterial stenosis affects the supply of blood to the brain and may result in stroke if the plaque is dislodged. This study aims to evaluate stenosis influenced hemodynamics of the carotid artery and its effect on the bio-heat transfer to the external neck skin surface. Systolic and Diastolic carotid artery flow inlet conditions, using a finite volume numerical scheme, are simulated with the inclusion of varied stenosis degree in the carotid model (25%–90%). A 3-dimensional (3D) conjugate heat transfer study is performed on an idealized carotid artery geometry, encapsulated in a tissue model resembling the human neck. With no significant difference in the average external neck skin temperature, variation in the temperature contours is observed between stenosed and non-stenosed cases. With the increase in the carotid artery stenosis, a quantitative change, the presence of a colder region called ‘cold feature’, in external neck skin temperature features is reported. This numerical study will prove to be a strong basis for future patient-specific evaluations.