Development and testing of a silicone in vitro model of descending aortic dissection

Joav Birjiniuk; Jean Marie Ruddy; Elizabeth Iffrig; Travis S Henry; Bradley G Leshnower; John N Oshinski; David N Ku; Ravi K Veeraswamy

doi:10.1016/j.jss.2015.03.024

Development and testing of a silicone in vitro model of descending aortic dissection

J Surg Res. 2015 Oct;198(2):502-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2015.03.024. Epub 2015 Mar 20.

Authors

Joav Birjiniuk¹, Jean Marie Ruddy², Elizabeth Iffrig³, Travis S Henry⁴, Bradley G Leshnower⁵, John N Oshinski⁶, David N Ku⁷, Ravi K Veeraswamy⁸

Affiliations

¹ Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia. Electronic address: jbirjin@emory.edu.
² Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
³ Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
⁴ Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
⁵ Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
⁶ Wallace H. Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia; Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
⁷ George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia.
⁸ Division of Vascular Surgery, Joseph B. Whitehead Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.

PMID: 26001674
DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2015.03.024

Abstract

Background: Stanford type B dissection of the descending aorta is a potentially fatal condition that is poorly understood. Limited scientific understanding of the role of current interventional techniques, as well as heterogeneity in the condition, contributes to lack of consensus as to the most effective treatment strategy. This study introduces an anatomically accurate model for investigating aortic dissection in a laboratory setting.

Materials and methods: A silicone model was fabricated and filled with fluid to mimic human blood. Flow was established, and the model was scanned using a four-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging protocol. On analysis, luminal flow rates were quantified by multiplying local velocity by included area.

Results: The upstream total flow was compared with the sum of the flow in the true and false lumens. The two values were within the margin of error. Furthermore, flow rates matched with the relative areas of each compartment.

Conclusions: These results validate our model as a novel and unique system that mimics a type B aortic dissection and will allow for more sophisticated analysis of dissection physiology in future studies.

Keywords: 4D flow MRI; Aortic dissection; Flow model; Translational research.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Validation Study

MeSH terms

Aortic Aneurysm*
Aortic Dissection*
Humans
Models, Anatomic*

Grants and funding

T32 GM008169/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States