4D-flow MRI and CFD in AAA
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of aortic haemodynamics to predict aortic events in abdominal aortic aneurysms: a 4D-flow MRI study and Computational Fluid Simulation Study
IRAS ID
294764
Contact name
Richard Gibbs
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 10 months, 30 days
Research summary
Abdominal aortic aneurysms affect 4%-8% of people over the age of 65 years. The natural history is ongoing aortic expansion and eventual rupture that leads to immediate death in 74-90% of people. In current clinical practice, surgical intervention is recommended at an aneurysm diameter of >5.5 cm because there is a 30% risk of aortic rupture at this threshold.
However, there are some patients who rupture at aortic diameters <5.5cm, and others who never rupture even at large (8cm) aortic diameters, making aortic diameter an unreliable risk-stratification tool.
Given that aortic growth and rupture indicate a mechanical failure of the aortic wall to withstand the forces of intraluminal blood pressure, the blood flow patterns and forces exerted on the aneurysmal aortic wall (aortic haemodynamics) may be important metrics in the pathogenesis of aortic growth and/or rupture.
This longitudinal observational study aims to characterise the haemodynamic and mechanical environment within AAAs using 4-dimensional flow magnetic resonance imaging (4D-flow MRI) and computational simulations (CFD) in order to determine the clinical significance of aortic haemodynamics and whether these metrics may be used to guide clinical decision making, independent of aortic diameter.
REC name
South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/SC/0252
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2021
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion