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Assessing abdominal aorta narrowing using computational fluid dynamics

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Abstract

This paper investigates the effect of developing arterial blockage at the abdominal aorta on the blood pressure waves at an externally accessible location suitable for invasive measurements such as the brachial and the femoral arteries. Arterial blockages are created surgically within the abdominal aorta of healthy Wistar rats to create narrowing resemblance conditions. Blood pressure is measured using a catheter inserted into the right femoral artery. Measurements are taken at the baseline healthy condition as well as at four different severities (20, 50, 80 and 100 %) of arterial blockage. In vivo and in vitro measurements of the lumen diameter and wall thickness are taken using magnetic resonance imaging and microscopic techniques, respectively. These data are used to validate a 3D computational fluid dynamics model which is developed to generalize the outcomes of this work and to determine the arterial stress and strain under the blockage conditions. This work indicates that an arterial blockage in excess of 20 % of the lumen diameter significantly influences the pressure wave and reduces the systolic blood pressure at the right femoral artery. High wall shear stresses and low circumferential strains are also generated at the blockage site.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported and funded by IBTec (Institute of Biomedical Technologies), Auckland University of Technology. The animal data were collected at Vernon Jansen Unit (VJU) at the University of Auckland with ethical approval R915 and the assistance of Dr. Jun Lu and IBTec’s PhD Candidate Miguel Jo-Avila. There are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication, and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Manukau Institute of Technology, Auckland, New Zealand

    Mohammad Al-Rawi

  2. Institute of Biomedical Technologies, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, City Campus, Auckland, WD301B, New Zealand

    Ahmed M. Al-Jumaily

Authors
  1. Mohammad Al-Rawi
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  2. Ahmed M. Al-Jumaily
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Correspondence to Ahmed M. Al-Jumaily.

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Al-Rawi, M., Al-Jumaily, A.M. Assessing abdominal aorta narrowing using computational fluid dynamics. Med Biol Eng Comput 54, 843–853 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-015-1375-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-015-1375-7

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