title: Computational fluid dynamics of the ascending aorta before the onset of type A aortic dissection.
abstract: We performed a pre-dissection computational fluid analysis of an ascending aortic aneurysm associated with unicuspid aortic valve. The analysis showed an abnormal helical flow pattern inside the aneurysm and an increased wall stress on the right postero-lateral wall of the ascending aorta. These values were largely higher than the theoretical cut-off for aortic wall dissection, their topographic distribution followed the intimal tear site as subsequently diagnosed by computed tomography scan and confirmed during the operation for dissection repair.
authors.affiliation: Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Pietro Giorgio
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Malvindi
authors.affiliation: Department for the Treatment and Study of Cardiothoracic Disease and Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Mediterranean Institute for Transplantation and Advanced Specialized Therapies (ISMETT-IRCCS), Palermo, Italy.|Fondazione Ri.MED, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pasta
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Ri.MED, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Raffa
authors.affiliation: Wessex Cardiothoracic Centre, Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Livesey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D001027:Aortography / Q000379:methods; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008297:Male; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
keywords: Aorta; Aortic dissection; Computer