Aortic endovascular repair modeling using the finite element method

Abstract

Aim: The goal is to simulate different stages of the endovascular procedure in the preoperative phase. Methods: We have developed a numerical model of the endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic an-eurysms (AAA) using finite element analysis (FEA), we took into account the geometry of the biological region reconstructed from scans, a local characterization of the guidewire/catheter mechanical properties, a mapping of material properties depending on the degree of calcification, a real behavior of the vascular walls, and a projection of the aorta environment. Results: Our results present the endovascular system navigation from the femoral artery to the neck of the aneurysm, predict the deformation of femoral, iliac and aortic arteries while driving flexible and stiff en-dovascular devices, and detect stress concentration due to tortuous and calcified artery zones. A given group of patients with very angulated and calcified arteries were validated, based on a tuning between clinical data and our endovascular simulation. Conclusion: Our model allows controlling with accuracy the delivery system rise during surgery, predicting the feasibility of the surgery with reliability as well as choose the best guide for each patient, taking into account the risk of rupture of calcified areas in the case of high angulations, and using planning simulated images with deformation of artery walls to propose stent sizing.