ASSESSMENT OF RUPTURE RISK FACTORS OF ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMS IN BULGARIAN PATIENTS USING A FINITE ELEMENT BASED SYSTEM

We have used a commercial Finite Element Analysis (FEA)-based software to calculate the individual biomechanical parameters of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) derived from Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) images in seventy-eight patients, followed -up at the National Heart Hospital, Sofia, in a three year period. We have evaluated the relations among the Peak Wall Rupture Index (PWRI) and basic morphological factors, such as the maximal AAA diameter, the maximal Intraluminal Thrombus (ILT) thickness, the total ILT volume in the aneurismal sac and the aortic expansion. The relations among the various morphological characteristics have been evaluated too. In our analysis, strong significant positive correlations between PWRI and the maximal AAA diameter, and the aortic expansion have been found. Additionally, strong significant positive correlations of the maximum AAA diameter and the aortic expansion with the total ILT volume are found.