title: Is There a Role for Biomechanical Engineering in Helping to Elucidate the Risk Profile of the Thoracic Aorta?
abstract: Clinical estimates of rupture and dissection risk of thoracic aortic aneurysms are based on nonsophisticated measurements of maximum diameter and growth rate. The use of aortic size alone may overlook the role that vessel heterogeneity plays in assessing the risk of catastrophic complications. Biomechanics may help provide a more nuanced approach to predict the behavior of thoracic aortic aneurysms. In this report, we review modeling studies with an emphasis on mechanical and fluid dynamics analyses. We identify open problems and highlight the future possibility of a multidisciplinary approach that includes biomechanics and imaging to evaluate the likelihood of rupture or dissection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Giampaolo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martufi
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Engineering Graduate Program, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Arianna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Forneris
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiac Surgery, Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Jehangir J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Appoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education, and Libin Cardiovascular Institute of Alberta, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: edimarti@ucalgary.ca.
authors.forename: Elena S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Di Martino
mesh_terms: D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001019:Aortic Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D057005:Bioengineering / Q000379:methods*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors