Geometric and Mechanical Analysis of Aortic Aneurysm

Abstract: The aorta, the main and largest artery in the human body, is susceptible for many types of problems. One of the most common aortic disease is the formation of an aneurysm. Endovascular aortic aneurysm repair (EVAR) is a minimally invasive treatment option for aortic aneurysms, involving the deployment of an expandable stent graft within the aorta without operating the aneurysm directly. With 1.5 to 43 % of EVAR patients having postoperative complications, research to help predict these complications of EVAR is of essence. In this study, the deformations of the aorta induced by a deployed stent graft have been investigated and visualized in order to aid understanding of the geometrical behaviour of the aorta post EVAR. This has been carried out by the development and analysis of patient-specific aortic 3D reconstruction models, 3D printed physical models and FE simulation models. A qualitative assessment of the deformations was achieved by superimposing reconstructed geometries, revealing a light straightening of the aorta and iliac vessels, as well as anterior movement of the iliac branches. Based on the good agreement between the simulated and reconstructed geometries, the findings suggest that such deformations could be derived from the pressure being removed from the aneurysm due to the deployed stent graft, in combination with stent radial forces from the proximal and distal landing zones. Despite that the simulation seemed to underestimate distal movement of the iliac vessel, this study emphasizes the potential of 3D printing and FE analysis as promising tools for planning and research of EVAR.