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Computational Analysis of the Mechanical Behaviors of Hemiarch and Total Arch Replacements

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Abstract

Surgery for aortic dissections or aneurysms can be extended into the aortic arch by hemiarch replacement (HAR) or total arch replacement (TAR). Although cardiovascular surgeons have been performing HAR and TAR for decades, the mechanical properties of HAR and TAR are not well understood. This study investigates the mechanical behaviors and stress distributions in HAR and TAR using a hybrid fluid–structure interaction analysis that combines computational fluid dynamics and structural static analysis. Geometrical information on the aortas of 11 subjects was extracted from contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT) scan data. The CT images were imported into medical image processing software to reconstruct 3D models of the aortas. A 3D finite element model was employed to simulate aortas that receive HAR or TAR. The deformation of the great vessels and the stress distributions at both the vessels and the aortic grafts were calculated. The numerical results revealed that the aortas following TAR exhibited a lower level of stress than those following HAR. Higher stresses may cause arterial wall injury and increase the risk of rupture. Finite element analysis of the aortas and the aortic grafts provides useful information that helps physicians better understand the potential problems that may arise after various surgical procedures.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (Contract No CMRPD2A0081) for financially supporting this research. Ted Knoy is appreciated for his editorial assistance.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest with respect to this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    Kuo-Sheng Liu & Feng-Chun Tsai

  2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    Cheng-Hung Lee & Kuo-Chun Hung

  3. Graduate Institute of Medical Mechatronics, Chang Gung University, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    Guan-Heng Jhong & Shih-Jung Liu

  4. Biomaterials Lab, Mechanical Engineering, Chang Gung University, No. 259, Wen-Hwa 1st Road, Kwei-Shan, Tao-Yuan, 333, Taiwan

    Shih-Jung Liu

Authors
  1. Kuo-Sheng Liu
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  2. Cheng-Hung Lee
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  3. Feng-Chun Tsai
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  4. Guan-Heng Jhong
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  5. Kuo-Chun Hung
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Correspondence to Shih-Jung Liu.

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Associate Editor Aleksander S. Popel oversaw the review of this article.

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Liu, KS., Lee, CH., Tsai, FC. et al. Computational Analysis of the Mechanical Behaviors of Hemiarch and Total Arch Replacements. Ann Biomed Eng 43, 2881–2891 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-015-1345-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-015-1345-0

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