Background and Purpose-Retrospective analysis of clinical data has demonstrated major variations in carotid bifurcation geometry, in support of the notion that an individual's vascular anatomy or local hemodynamics may influence the development of atherosclerosis. On the other hand, anecdotal evidence suggests that vessel geometry is more homogenous in youth, which would tend to undermine this geometric risk hypothesis. The purpose of our study was to test whether the latter is indeed the case. Methods-Cross-sectional images of the carotid bifurcations of 25 young adults (24Ϯ4 years) and a control group of 25 older subjects (63Ϯ10 years) were acquired via MRI. Robust and objective techniques were developed to automatically characterize the 3D geometry of the bifurcation and the relative dimensions of the internal, external, and common carotid arteries (ICA, ECA, and CCA, respectively).

A thorough understanding of the relationship between local hemodynamics and plaque progression has been hindered by an inability to prospectively monitor these factors in vivo in humans. In this study a novel approach for noninvasively reconstructing artery wall thickness and local hemodynamics at the human carotid bifurcation is presented. Three-dimensional (3D) models of the lumen and wall boundaries, from which wall thickness can be measured, were reconstructed from blackblood magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Along with time-varying inlet/outlet flow rates measured via phase contrast (PC) MRI, the lumen boundary was used as input for computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulation of the subject-specific flow patterns and wall shear stresses (WSSs). Results from a 59-yearold subject with early, asymptomatic carotid artery disease show good agreement between simulated and measured velocities, and demonstrate a correspondence between wall thickening and low and oscillating shear at the carotid bulb. High shear at the distal internal carotid artery (ICA) was also colocalized with higher WSS; however, a quantitative general relationship between WSS and wall thickness was not found. Similar results were obtained from a 23-year-old normal subject. Wall shear stress (WSS) is widely believed to play a key role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Studies comparing human post-mortem distributions of plaque to in vitro fluid dynamic models have perhaps provided the most direct observational evidence for the relationship between WSS and the focal development of atherosclerotic lesions (1-4). The mechanisms by which shear stresses alter endothelial function at the cellular, molecular, and genetic level are also now being elucidated (5). Despite these advances, however, many questions still remain regarding the role of fluid dynamics in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. One reason for this has been the difficulty of identifying and monitoring the relationships between local fluid dynamic factors and plaque development on a subject-specific basis.In principle, both MR and ultrasound imaging can be used to measure wall thickness (a marker for atherosclerotic burden) and blood velocities (from which WSSs are derived) directly. However, difficulties associated with the quantification of blood velocities in regions of complex flow have in the past limited the application of such an "imaging-only" approach to relatively straight sections of the abdominal aorta (6), femoral artery (7), and common carotid artery (8 -10). While these studies were able to confirm an inverse relationship between mean or peak shear and intimal or intima-media thickness, it is not yet possible to use imaging techniques alone to map WSS in the regions of complex flow where plaques are known to localize, such as at the carotid bifurcation. Recent work by Stokholm et al. (11) suggests that WSS from individual slices at the carotid bifurcation itself can be quantified in vivo by sophisticated postprocessing of ph...

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of using augmented reality (AR) glasses in central line simulation by novice operators and compare its efficacy to standard central line simulation/teaching.DesignThis was a prospective randomized controlled study enrolling 32 novice operators. Subjects were randomized on a 1:1 basis to either simulation using the augmented virtual reality glasses or simulation using conventional instruction.SettingThe study was conducted in tertiary-care urban teaching hospital.SubjectsA total of 32 adult novice central line operators with no visual or auditory impairments were enrolled. Medical doctors, respiratory therapists, and sleep technicians were recruited from the medical field.Measurements and main resultsThe mean time for AR placement in the AR group was 71±43 s, and the time to internal jugular (IJ) cannulation was 316±112 s. There was no significant difference in median (minimum, maximum) time (seconds) to IJ cannulation for those who were in the AR group and those who were not (339 [130, 550] vs 287 [35, 475], p=0.09), respectively. There was also no significant difference between the two groups in median total procedure time (524 [329, 792] vs 469 [198, 781], p=0.29), respectively. There was a significant difference in the adherence level between the two groups favoring the AR group (p=0.003).ConclusionAR simulation of central venous catheters in manikins is feasible and efficacious in novice operators as an educational tool. Future studies are recommended in this area as it is a promising area of medical education.