Biomechanical Simulation of the Outcomes of Reduction Aortoplasty Surgery in Patients Eligible for Aortic Valve Replacement: A Case Study of Referrals to Hazrat Rasul Akram Hospital During 1402–1403

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 General Surgery Resident, Department of General Surgery, Rasool Akram Hospital School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

2 Attending Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery in IUMS - Iran and Fellow of Advanced Thoracic Organs Transplantation in NWU and NM Illinois

3 Associate Professor of General Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Rasool Akram Hospital School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

Abstract
Background and Objective: Aortic surgeries are among the most complex and critical procedures in cardiology and vascular surgery. Reducible aortoplasty offers a viable alternative to ascending aorta grafting for patients with moderate aortic dilation. This study aims to evaluate the hemodynamic effects of reducible aortoplasty and compare clinical outcomes with predictions derived from numerical simulations.
Materials & Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on data from four patients who underwent reducible aortoplasty. Blood pressure measurements were recorded both preoperatively and postoperatively. To assess hemodynamic changes, we utilized echocardiography, supplemented by finite element modeling (FEM) and numerical simulations. The patients' radiological data were analyzed using Abaqus software in conjunction with the finite element method.
Results: In Case 1, involving a 56-year-old male, minimal alterations in blood pressure were observed post-surgery, with simulation predictions closely aligning with echocardiographic findings. Case 2 involved a 62-year-old male who exhibited a significant postoperative reduction in blood pressure, corroborated by the computational model's results. Case 3, a 75-year-old female, developed aortic valve failure following surgery, an outcome inconsistent with the numerical predictions. In Case 4, a 70-year-old male showed a substantial postoperative decrease in blood pressure, consistent with simulation predictions.
Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the efficacy of FEM and numerical simulations in evaluating surgical outcomes. However, to enhance the accuracy and reliability of these predictions, it is essential to address current limitations. Improving numerical models to incorporate individualized patient characteristics, providing advanced training for healthcare professionals in modeling techniques, and conducting further investigations may contribute to improved clinical outcomes for patients undergoing aortic surgeries.

Keywords


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