title: Biomechanical evaluation of ascending aortic aneurysms.
abstract: The biomechanical properties of ascending aortic aneurysms were investigated only in the last decade in a limited number of studies. Indeed, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in this field in order to identify new predictive parameters of risk of dissection, which may have clinical relevance. The researches performed so far have been conducted according to the methods used in the study of abdominal aortic aneurysms. In most cases, uniaxial or biaxial tensile tests were used, while in a smaller number of studies other methods, such as opening angle, bulge inflation, and inflation-extension tests, were used. However, parameters and protocols of these tests are at present very heterogeneous in the studies reported in the literature, and, therefore, the results are not comparable and are sometimes conflicting. The purpose of this review then thence to provide a comprehensive analysis of the experimental methodology for determination of biomechanical properties in the specific field of aneurysms of the ascending aorta to allow for better comparison and understanding of the results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Avanzini
authors.affiliation: Department of Industrial and Mechanical Engineering, University of Brescia, Via Branze 38, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battini
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3986-4223
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bagozzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Brescia, P.le Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianluigi
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9816-1480
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bisleri
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors