Anatomically Accurate Haemodynamic Simulations of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

The pulsatile blood flow field in a patient-specific pathology of a large Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is being simulated, both pre and post interventionally. The anatomies of the aortic wall and blood lumen have been derived by digitized Computerized Tomography (CT) scans. Three dimensional unsteady computational fluid dynamics simulations have provided a comprehensive collection of quantitative information on the haemodynamics and the flow features that present themselves in both the temporal and spatial spaces. The focus lies on alterations in the haemodynamics triggered by the interventional procedure itself, which consists of the endoluminal introduction of a stent-graft. Significant information may also be deduced concerning the hydrodynamic loading of such implants. Computational tools of this nature, along with the non-invasive CT or Magnetic Resonance (MR) aortic imaging techniques, could enable an objective assessment of the possible effects of any interventional scenario in a virtual noninvasive environment both proximally and distally to the diseased region.