Identifying indices of vulnerability in the aneurysmal abdominal aorta: The interplay between mechanics and morphology

Ismaguilova, Alina

Identifying indices of vulnerability in the aneurysmal abdominal aorta: The interplay between mechanics and morphology

dc.contributor.advisor	Di Martino, Elena S.
dc.contributor.author	Ismaguilova, Alina
dc.contributor.committeemember	Matyas, John Robert
dc.contributor.committeemember	Tyberg, John V. T.
dc.contributor.committeemember	Edwards, William Brent
dc.contributor.committeemember	Natale, Giovanniantonio
dc.date	2019-11
dc.date.accessioned	2019-09-09T18:52:31Z
dc.date.available	2019-09-09T18:52:31Z
dc.date.issued	2019-09-05
dc.description.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.	en_US
dc.identifier.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.	en_US
dc.identifier.doi	http://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/36966
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/1880/110894
dc.language.iso	eng	en_US
dc.publisher.faculty	Schulich School of Engineering	en_US
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary	en
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.	en_US
dc.subject	abdominal aortic aneurysm	en_US
dc.subject	aortic aneurysm	en_US
dc.subject	aorta	en_US
dc.subject	material properties	en_US
dc.subject	mechanical testing	en_US
dc.subject	inflammation	en_US
dc.subject	microstructure	en_US
dc.subject	multiphoton microscopy	en_US
dc.subject	histology	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Physiology	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Pathology	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Engineering	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Engineering--Biomedical	en_US
dc.title	Identifying indices of vulnerability in the aneurysmal abdominal aorta: The interplay between mechanics and morphology	en_US
dc.type	master thesis	en_US
thesis.degree.discipline	Engineering – Biomedical	en_US
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary	en_US
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)	en_US
ucalgary.item.requestcopy	true	en_US