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Peak wall stress measurement in elective and acute abdominal aortic aneurysms

Heng, Michael S.; Fagan, Michael J.; Collier, Jason W.; Desai, Grishma; McCollum, Peter T.; Chetter, Ian C.

Authors

Michael S. Heng

Michael J. Fagan

Jason W. Collier

Grishma Desai

Peter T. McCollum



Abstract

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) rupture occurs when wall stress exceeds wall strength. Engineering principles suggest that aneurysm diameter is only one aspect of its geometry that influences wall stress. Finite element analysis considers the complete geometry and determines wall stresses throughout the structure. This article investigates the interoperator and intraoperator reliability of finite element analysis in the calculation of peak wall stress (PWS) in AAA and examines the variation in PWS in elective and acute AAAs. Method: Full ethics and institutional approval was obtained. The study recruited 70 patients (30 acute, 40 elective) with an infrarenal AAA. Computed tomography (CT) images were obtained of the AAA from the renal vessels to the aortic bifurcation. Manual edge extraction, three-dimensional reconstruction, and blinded finite element analysis were performed to ascertain location and value of PWS. Ten CT data sets were analyzed by four different operators to ascertain interoperator reliability and by one operator twice to ascertain intraoperator reliability. An intraclass correlation coefficient was obtained. The Mann-Whitney U test and independent samples t test compared groups for statistical significance. Results: The intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.71 for interoperator reliability and 0.84 for intraoperator reliability. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean (SD) maximal AAA diameter between elective (6.47 [1.30] cm) and acute (7.08 [1.39] cm) patients (P = .073). The difference in PWS between elective (0.67 [0.30] MPa) and acute (1.11 [0.51] MPa) patients (P = .008) was statistically significant, however. Conclusion: Interoperator and intraoperator reliability in the derivation of PWS is acceptable. PWS, but not maximal diameter, was significantly higher in acute AAAs than in elective AAAs.

Citation

Heng, M. S., Fagan, M. J., Collier, J. W., Desai, G., McCollum, P. T., & Chetter, I. C. (2008). Peak wall stress measurement in elective and acute abdominal aortic aneurysms. Journal of vascular surgery, 47(1), 17-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2007.09.002

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Sep 4, 2007
Online Publication Date Dec 3, 2007
Publication Date 2008-01
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal JOURNAL OF VASCULAR SURGERY
Print ISSN 0741-5214
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 47
Issue 1
Pages 17-22
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvs.2007.09.002
Keywords Surgery; Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/391614