Abdominal aortic aneurysms and endovascular sealing: deformation and dynamic response

TL;DR

This paper introduces a model explaining the forces and deformations affecting endovascular sealing in abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, highlighting potential causes of late complications due to movement and vibrations.

Contribution

It presents the first model analyzing static and dynamic forces on sealed aneurysms, linking elastic deformation to possible endoprosthesis movement and complications.

Findings

Elastic deformation can promote undesired endograft movement.

Vibrations during daily activities influence endograft stability.

Static forces contribute to potential late complications.

Abstract

Endovascular sealing is a new technique for the repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. Commercially available in Europe since~2013, it takes a revolutionary approach to aneurysm repair through minimally invasive techniques. Although aneurysm sealing may be thought as more stable than conventional endovascular stent graft repairs, post-implantation movement of the endoprosthesis has been described, potentially leading to late complications. The paper presents for the first time a model, which explains the nature of forces, in static and dynamic regimes, acting on sealed abdominal aortic aneurysms, with references to real case studies. It is shown that elastic deformation of the aorta and of the endoprosthesis induced by static forces and vibrations during daily activities can potentially promote undesired movements of the endovascular sealing structure.