Endovascular repair of type B aortic dissection: a study by computational fluid dynamics

Yi Fan, Stephen Wing-Keung Cheng, Kai-Xiong Qing, Kwok-Wing Chow

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DOI: 10.4236/jbise.2010.39120                

Abstract

Aortic dissection is a dangerous pathological condition where blood intrudes into the layers of the arterial walls, creating an artificial channel (false lumen). In the absence of thrombosis or surgical intervention, blood will enter the false lumen through the proximal tear, and join the true lumen again through a distal tear. Rupture of the weakened outer wall will result in extremely high mortality rates. Type B thoracic aortic dissection (TAD), occurring along the descending aorta, can be repaired surgically by the deployment of an endovascular stent graft, concealing the proximal entry tear. Blood might still flow into the false lumen (FL) through the distal tear. The domain of such flow should be minimized, as complete thrombosis of the FL is generally believed to be more beneficial for the patient. The dependence on the area ratios of the lumens and size of these tears is studied by computational fluid dynamics.

Keywords

Aortic Dissection; Endovascular Repair; Stent Graft; Computational Fluid Dynamics

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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