Real-time blood circulation and bleeding model for surgical training

IEEE Trans Biomed Eng. 2013 Apr;60(4):1013-22. doi: 10.1109/TBME.2012.2230326. Epub 2012 Nov 29.

Abstract

Intraoperative management of bleeding is a critical skill all surgeons must possess. It is, however, very challenging to create a safe and realistic learning environment for its acquisition. In this paper, we propose a simple and efficient approach to integrate blood circulation to computerized surgical simulation systems and allow for real-time processing of punctures, ruptures, and cauterization of blood vessels. Blood pressures and flows are calculated using a system of ordinary differential equations, which can be simulated very efficiently. The equation system itself is constructed using a graph of the vessels' connectivity extracted from magnetic resonance angiograms (MRA) and completed with virtual vessels deduced from the principle of minimum work. Real-time performances of the method are assessed and results are demonstrated on ten patients who underwent a MRA before removal of a brain tumor.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Loss, Surgical / prevention & control
  • Blood Pressure
  • Blood Vessels / physiology
  • Blood Vessels / physiopathology
  • Computer-Assisted Instruction / methods*
  • General Surgery / education
  • Hemorrhage / physiopathology*
  • Hemorrhage / surgery*
  • Hemostasis, Surgical / education*
  • Humans
  • Models, Cardiovascular*