Preliminary Murine Aortic Tissue Material Properties From Pressure-Diameter Experiments

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common and deadly problem. The aortic diameter increases in association with a complex remodeling process that includes changes in the structure and content of key proteins, elastin and collagen. As these changes occur, the tissue mechanical properties also change. The natural history of AAA is progressive enlargement to a point of mechanical tissue failure typically followed by death. Currently, the marker used to predict the risk of impending rupture is the largest transverse diameter. After reaching a diameter threshold of 5.5 cm the aneurysm is surgically repaired. This criterion does not consider any patient-specific information or the known heterogeneity of the aneurysm that may, in some cases, lead to rupture before the aneurysm reaches the standard intervention threshold. Conversely, in many patients, continued observation beyond this threshold is safe.