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Vander Linden K, Vanderveken E, Van Hoof L, Maes L, Fehervary H, Dreesen S, Hendrickx A, Verbrugghe P, Rega F, Meuris B, Famaey N. Stiffness matters: Improved failure risk assessment of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms. JTCVS OPEN 2023; 16:66-83. [PMID: 38204617 PMCID: PMC10775041 DOI: 10.1016/j.xjon.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Objectives Rupture and dissection are feared complications of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms caused by mechanical failure of the wall. The current method of using the aortic diameter to predict the risk of wall failure and to determine the need for surgical resection lacks accuracy. Therefore, this study aims to identify reliable and clinically measurable predictors for aneurysm rupture or dissection by performing a personalized failure risk analysis, including clinical, geometrical, histologic, and mechanical data. Methods The study cohort consisted of 33 patients diagnosed with ascending aortic aneurysms without genetic syndromes. Uniaxial tensile tests until failure were performed to determine the wall strength. Material parameters were fitted against ex vivo planar biaxial data and in vivo pressure-diameter relationships at diastole and systole, which were derived from multiphasic computed tomography (CT) scans. Using the resulting material properties and in vivo data, the maximal in vivo stress at systole was calculated, assuming a thin-walled axisymmetric geometry. The retrospective failure risk was calculated by comparing the peak wall stress at suprasystolic pressure with the wall strength. Results The distensibility coefficient, reflecting aortic compliance and derived from blood pressure measurements and multiphasic CT scans, outperformed predictors solely based on geometrical features in assessing the risk of aneurysm failure. Conclusions In a clinical setting, multiphasic CT scans followed by the calculation of the distensibility coefficient are of added benefit in patient-specific, clinical decision-making. The distensibility derived from the aneurysm volume change has the best predictive power, as it also takes the axial stretch into account.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emma Vanderveken
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lucas Van Hoof
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lauranne Maes
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Heleen Fehervary
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- FIBEr, KU Leuven Core Facility for Biomechanical Experimentation, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Silke Dreesen
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Amber Hendrickx
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Verbrugghe
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Filip Rega
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bart Meuris
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nele Famaey
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- FIBEr, KU Leuven Core Facility for Biomechanical Experimentation, Leuven, Belgium
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Tan Y, Li Y, Shi J, Zhang Y, Huang L, Zhao R, Deng W, Liu T, Fang L, Zhang L, Xie M, Wang J. Noninvasive left ventricular pressure-strain myocardial work in patients with well-functioning bicuspid aortic valves and aortic dilation: a preliminary study. Quant Imaging Med Surg 2023; 13:6517-6527. [PMID: 37869319 PMCID: PMC10585504 DOI: 10.21037/qims-23-294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Noninvasive left ventricular pressure-strain myocardial work (MW) is a novel method for evaluating left ventricular function that integrates myocardial deformation and afterload and has certain advantages over global longitudinal strain (GLS). The study aimed to analyze MW in patients with well-functioning bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and explore the influences of aortic dilation and arterial stiffness on left ventricular function. Methods A total of 104 patients with well-functioning BAVs and 50 controls were enrolled in our study. Global work index (GWI), global constructive work (GCW), global wasted work (GWW), global work efficiency (GWE), GLS, and aortic stiffness index were measured. Based on the ascending aortic diameter, patients with BAV were divided into 3 subgroups (nondilated, mildly dilated, and moderately dilated). Results GWI, GCW, GWW, and aortic stiffness index were significantly increased (P<0.001, P=0.023, P<0.001, and P<0.001, respectively), while GWE and GLS were significantly decreased among patients with BAV compared with controls (all P values <0.001). Patients with BAV and mildly and moderately dilated aortas had an increased GWW and aortic stiffness index but a decreased GWE compared with patients with BAV and nondilated aortas (all P values <0.05); meanwhile, GCW and GLS did not differ among the BAV subgroups (all P values >0.05). GWI was elevated in patients with BAV and moderately dilated aortas compared with patients with BAV and nondilated aortas (P<0.05). On multivariable analysis, the aortic stiffness index was an independent influencer of GWI, GCW, GWW, and GWE (P=0.025, P=0.049, P<0.001, and P=0.001, respectively). The aortic diameter was highly correlated with the aortic stiffness index (r=0.863; P<0.001). Conclusions MW could assess early myocardial impairment in patients with well-functioning BAV. MW may help to differentiate the detrimental effect of aortic dilation on left ventricular function, whereas GLS may not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Tan
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuman Li
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiawei Shi
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Yichan Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Huang
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Ruohan Zhao
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenhui Deng
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianshu Liu
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Lingyun Fang
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingxing Xie
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Ultrasound, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Clinical Research Center for Medical Imaging in Hubei Province, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Key Laboratory of Molecular Imaging, Wuhan, China
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Mulorz J, Garcon F, Arnautovic A, De Somer C, Knapsis A, Aubin H, Fleissner F, Rembe JD, Vockel M, Oberhuber A, Lichtenberg A, Schelzig H, Wagenhäuser MU. The Role of Spatial Aortic Arch Architecture in Type B Aortic Dissection. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5963. [PMID: 37762902 PMCID: PMC10532254 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12185963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The incidence of type B aortic dissection (TBAD) is increasing worldwide; however, the underlying pathomechanisms are not conclusively understood. This study explores the geometric architecture of the aortic arch and supra-aortic branches in TBAD patients as opposed to non-TBAD patients. METHODS Patient characteristics were retrieved from archived medical records. Computer-assisted tomography (CAT) scans of patients with TBAD and carotid stenosis (CS) from two high-volume centers were analyzed. Various aortic arch parameters and take-off angles of the supra-aortic branches of TBAD patients were measured following centerline normalization in comparison CS patients. A compression index (C-index) was calculated from the para-sagittal, and a torsion index (T-index) was calculated from the para-coronal take-off angles of the supra-aortic branches to analyze aortic arch tortuosity. RESULTS A total of 199 CAT scans were analyzed, namely, 85 in the TBAD group and 114 in the CS group. The average age was 61.5 ± 13.1 years among the TBAD patients and 71 ± 9.3 years among the CS patients. We found a significantly higher proportion of type III aortic arch configurations in TBAD patients compared with CS patients. Further, the aortic arch angle was steeper in the TBAD group. In the para-sagittal plane, the left subclavian artery (LSA) take-off angle was less steep in TBAD patients. In the para-coronal plane, the left carotid artery (LCA) had a less steep take-off angle, while the LSA had a more obtuse take-off angle in the TBAD group when compared with the CS group. In addition, the inter-vessel distance was increased in TBAD patients. Finally, the T-index was increased, suggesting a significant torsion resulting from the deviating take-off angles of the supra-aortic branches supplying the left half of the body as opposed to the innominate artery (IA) in TBAD patients. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest several aortic arch-specific geometric configurations in patients suffering from TBAD that significantly differ from those in CS patients. Further functional studies are needed to verify the pathogenetic relevance of our results and their disease-specific causality. Although our data are not mechanistically explorative, they may serve as a basis for identifying future patients with aortic arch morphology at higher risk for TBAD development and who may benefit from more stringent adjustment of risk factors as a primary prevention concept.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joscha Mulorz
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Franziska Garcon
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Amir Arnautovic
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Casper De Somer
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Artis Knapsis
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hug Aubin
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- CURE3D Laboratory, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Felix Fleissner
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julian-Dario Rembe
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Malwina Vockel
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Alexander Oberhuber
- Department of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, University Hospital Muenster, 48149 Muenster, Germany
| | - Artur Lichtenberg
- Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Duesseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Düsseldorf (CARID), Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Hubert Schelzig
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Markus Udo Wagenhäuser
- Clinic for Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Vascular- and Endovascular Surgery, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Moorenstraße 5, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
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