No abstract

Endovascular treatment of the femoro-popliteal artery has recently become a valuable therapeutic option for popliteal arterial aneurysms. However, its efficacy remains controversial due to the relatively high rate of complications, such as stent occlusion as result of intra-stent thrombosis. The elucidation of the interplay among vessel geometrical features, local hemodynamics, and leg bending seems crucial to understand onset and progression of popliteal intra-stent thrombosis. To this aim, patient-specific computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed in order to assess the intra-stent hemodynamics of two patients endovascularly treated for popliteal arterial aneurysm by stent-grafts and experiencing intra-stent thrombosis. Both Newtonian and non-Newtonian blood rheological models were considered. Results were presented in terms of tortuosity, luminal area exposed to low (< 0.4 Pa) and high (> 1.5 Pa) time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), area exposed to high (> 0.3) oscillatory shear index (OSI), and flow helicity. Study outcomes demonstrated that leg bending induced significant hemodynamic differences (> 50% increase) in both patients for all the considered variables, except for OSI in one of the two considered patients. In both leg configurations, stent-graft overlapping induced a severe discontinuity of the lumen diameter where the proximal stented zone is characterized by low tortuosity, low velocity, low helicity, low TAWSS, and high OSI; while the distal part has higher tortuosity, velocity, helicity, TAWSS, and lower OSI. Sensitivity study on applied boundary conditions showed that the different inlet velocity profiles for a given inlet waveform affect slightly the numerical solution; conversely, the shape and magnitude of the prescribed inlet waveform is determinant. Focusing on the comparison between the Newtonian and non-Newtonian blood models, the area with low TAWSS is greater in the Newtonian model for both patients, while no significant difference occurs between the surfaces with high TAWSS. GraphicAbstract Patient-specific computational fluid dynamic simulations were performed in order to assess the intra-stent hemodynamics of two patients endovascularly treated for popliteal arterial aneurysm and experiencing intra-stent thrombosis. Both Newtonian and non-Newtonian blood rheological models were considered. In both straight and bent leg configurations, stent-graft overlapping induced a severe discontinuity of the lumen diameter where the proximal stented zone is characterized by low tortuosity, low velocity, low helicity, low time-averaged wall shear stress (TAWSS), and high oscillatory index (OSI); while the distal part has higher tortuosity, velocity, helicity, TAWSS, and lower OSI.

OBJECTIVES Transcatheter aortic root repair (TARR) consists of the simultaneous endovascular replacement of the aortic valve, the root and the proximal ascending aorta. The aim of the study is to set-up a computational model of TARR to explore the impact of the endovascular procedure on the coronary circulation supported by chimney grafts. METHODS Computed tomography of a patient with dilated ascending aorta was segmented to obtain a 3-dimensional representation of the proximal thoracic aorta, including aortic root and supra-aortic branches. Computed assisted design tools were used to modify the geometry to create the post-procedural TARR configuration featuring the main aortic endograft integrated with 2 chimney grafts for coronary circulation. Computational Fluid Dynamics simulations were run in both pre- and post-procedural configurations using a pulsatile inflow and lumped parameter models at the outflows to simulate peripheral aortic and coronary circulation. Differences in coronary flow and pressure along the cardiac cycle were evaluated. RESULTS After the virtual implant of the TARR device with coronary grafts, the flow became more organized and less recirculation was seen in the ascending aorta. Coronary perfusion was guaranteed with negligible flow differences between pre- and post-procedural configurations. However, despite being well perfused by chimney grafts, the procedure induces an increase of the pressure drop between the coronary ostia and the ascending aorta of 8 mmHg. CONCLUSIONS The proposed numerical simulations, in the specific case under investigation, suggest that the TARR technique maintains coronary perfusion through the chimney grafts. This study calls for experimental validation and further analyses of the impact of TARR on cardiac afterload, decrease of aortic compliance and local pressure drop induced by the coronary chimney grafts.

In the original publication of the article a fund note has not been displayed appropriately in the acknowledgment section. The missing fund note is updated in this correction. This work is partially funded by the Italian Ministry of Health through the Ricerca Finalizzata Project no. RF-2018-12368376 entitled "Impact of peripheral endovascular repair on femoral-popliteal artery kinematic: from clinical experience to in vivo biomechanical modeling (PERFEKT study)".Publisher's Note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.