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The effect of angulation in abdominal aortic aneurysms: fluid–structure interaction simulations of idealized geometries

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Abstract

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) represents a degenerative disease process of the abdominal aorta that results in dilation and permanent remodeling of the arterial wall. A fluid structure interaction (FSI) parametric study was conducted to evaluate the progression of aneurysmal disease and its possible implications on risk of rupture. Two parametric studies were conducted using (i) the iliac bifurcation angle and (ii) the AAA neck angulation. Idealized streamlined AAA geometries were employed. The simulations were carried out using both isotropic and anisotropic wall material models. The parameters were based on CT scans measurements obtained from a population of patients. The results indicate that the peak wall stresses increased with increasing iliac and neck inlet angles. Wall shear stress (WSS) and fluid pressure were analyzed and correlated with the wall stresses for both sets of studies. An adaptation response of a temporary reduction of the peak wall stresses seem to correlate to a certain extent with increasing iliac angles. For the neck angulation studies it appears that a breakdown from symmetric vortices at the AAA inlet into a single larger vortex significantly increases the wall stress. Our parametric FSI study demonstrates the adaptation response during aneurysmal disease progression and its possible effects on the AAA risk of rupture. This dependence on geometric parameters of the AAA can be used as an additional diagnostic tool to help clinicians reach informed decisions in establishing whether a risky surgical intervention is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Michalis Xenos, Yared Alemu, Dan Zamfir, Shmuel Einav & Danny Bluestein

  2. Department of Surgery, Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    John J. Ricotta, Nicos Labropoulos & Apostolos Tassiopoulos

  3. Department of Surgery, Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, USA

    John J. Ricotta

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  1. Michalis Xenos
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  2. Yared Alemu
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  3. Dan Zamfir
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  4. Shmuel Einav
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  5. John J. Ricotta
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  6. Nicos Labropoulos
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  7. Apostolos Tassiopoulos
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  8. Danny Bluestein
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Correspondence to Danny Bluestein.

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Xenos, M., Alemu, Y., Zamfir, D. et al. The effect of angulation in abdominal aortic aneurysms: fluid–structure interaction simulations of idealized geometries. Med Biol Eng Comput 48, 1175–1190 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0714-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-010-0714-y

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