title: Finite element analysis of aortic root dilation: a new procedure to reproduce pathology based on experimental data.
abstract: Sinotubular junction dilation is one of the most frequent pathologies associated with aortic root incompetence. Hence, we create a finite element model considering the whole root geometry; then, starting from healthy valve models and referring to measures of pathological valves reported in the literature, we reproduce the pathology of the aortic root by imposing appropriate boundary conditions. After evaluating the virtual pathological process, we are able to correlate dimensions of non-functional valves with dimensions of competent valves. Such a relation could be helpful in recreating a competent aortic root and, in particular, it could provide useful information in advance in aortic valve sparing surgery.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Meccanica Strutturale (DMS), Università degli Studi di Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Auricchio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demertzis
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morganti
mesh_terms: D001022:Aortic Valve Insufficiency / Q000473:pathology*; D020342:Finite Element Analysis; D006801:Humans; D015203:Reproducibility of Results