Identifying indices of vulnerability in the aneurysmal abdominal aorta: The interplay between mechanics and morphology
Date
2019-09-05
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Abstract
An abdominal aortic aneurysm is the pathological dilatation of the abdominal aorta that can grow silently and rupture without warning. Over time, the vessel wall becomes weaker as inflammatory processes take over and the microarchitecture is compromised. Understanding the behaviour of the aneurysm wall at the macro and microscopic level can help elucidate the rupture potential of the vessel. This study proposes a novel method in assessing regions-specific differences by which we section the aorta into patches that can be traced back to specific areas on the aneurysm. The present study is thus an exploratory approach at assessing the aneurysms of multiple patients to establish differences between aneurysms, within aneurysms, and compare against healthy tissue. We established these differences, among others, using a variety of methods that assess the tissue microstructure, inflammation, composition, and mechanical response to loading. We also demonstrated the mechanical and structural heterogeneity in case studies exploring region-specific differences within the same patient. Coupling exploration into the pathophysiology of the aneurysm with its mechanical behaviour allowed us to paint a better picture of the disease, with mechanics often explaining biology and vice versa. We conclude that the pathological abdominal aorta exhibits a disruption in its extracellular matrix, profound inflammation, stiffer behaviour, and increased energy loss when compared with non-aneurysmal tissue. Ultimately, rupture risk assessment strategies need to utilize patient-specific parameters, and region-specific considerations need to be made.
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Keywords
abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic aneurysm, aorta, material properties, mechanical testing, inflammation, microstructure, multiphoton microscopy, histology
Citation
Ismaguilova, A. (2019). Identifying indices of vulnerability in the aneurysmal abdominal aorta: The interplay between mechanics and morphology (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.