Journal article
Wall stress distribution on three-dimensionally reconstructed models of human abdominal aortic aneurysm
Journal of vascular surgery, Vol.31(4), pp.760-769
04/2000
DOI: 10.1067/mva.2000.103971
PMID: 10753284
Abstract
Purpose: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture is believed to occur when the mechanical stress acting on the wall exceeds the strength of the wall tissue. Therefore, knowledge of the stress distribution in an intact AAA wall could be useful in assessing its risk of rupture. We developed a methodology to noninvasively estimate the in vivo wall stress distribution for actual AAAs on a patient-to-patient basis. Methods: Six patients with AAAs and one control patient with a nonaneurysmal aorta were the study subjects. Data from spiral computed tomography scans were used as a means of three-dimensionally reconstructing the in situ geometry of the intact AAAs and the control aorta. We used a nonlinear biomechanical model developed specifically for AAA wall tissue. By means of the finite element method, the stress distribution on the aortic wall of all subjects under systolic blood pressure was determined and studied. Results: In all the AAA cases, the wall stress was complexly distributed, with distinct regions of high and low stress. Peak wall stress among AAA patients varied from 29 N/cm2 to 45 N/cm2 and was found on the posterior surface in all cases studied. The wall stress on the nonaneurysmal aorta in the control subject was relatively low and uniformly distributed, with a peak wall stress of 12 N/cm2. AAA volume, rather than AAA diameter, was shown by means of statistical analysis to be a better indicator of high wall stresses and possibly rupture. Conclusion: The approach taken to estimate AAA wall stress distribution is completely noninvasive and does not require any additional involvement or expense by the AAA patient. We believe that this methodology may allow for the evaluation of an individual AAA's rupture risk on a more biophysically sound basis than the widely used 5-cm AAA diameter criterion. (J Vasc Surg 2000;31:760-9.)
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Wall stress distribution on three-dimensionally reconstructed models of human abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Creators
- M.L RaghavanDavid A VorpMichael P FederleMichel S MakarounMarshall W Webster
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- Journal of vascular surgery, Vol.31(4), pp.760-769
- Publisher
- Mosby, Inc
- DOI
- 10.1067/mva.2000.103971
- PMID
- 10753284
- ISSN
- 0741-5214
- eISSN
- 1097-6809
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 04/2000
- Academic Unit
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering
- Record Identifier
- 9984064560602771
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