Anatomical characteristics of the thoracic aortic arch in an Asian population. (April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Chiu, Peixuan; Lee, Heow Pueh; Venkatesh, Sudhakar K; Ho, Pei
• Is Part Of: Asian cardiovascular & thoracic annals. Volume 21:Number 2(2013)
• Page Start: 151
• Page End: 159
• Publication Date: 2013-04
• Subjects: Aorta -- thoracic -- biomechanics -- finite element analysis -- models -- cardiovascular -- prosthesis design; Heart -- Diseases -- Asia -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Heart -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Asia -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Asia -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Pacific Area -- Periodicals; Chest -- Surgery -- Periodicals; 617.412
• DOI: 10.1177/0218492312449637
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0218-4923

Abstract

Background: Endovascular repair of the aortic arch is often unsatisfactory due to poor stent-vessel conformity and inadequate landing zones. Objective: To study the anatomical characteristics of the aortic arch and provide basic information for the development of arch-specific endovascular devices. Materials and methods: Three-dimensional models were reconstructed in Mimics (image segmentation software) from computed tomography aortograms of 120 elderly Asian patients, by manual segmentation. The centerline of each Three-dimensional aortic model was calculated using a repulsive force field method. Measurements of the aorta and supra-aortic branches were analyzed using Patran (finite-element software). A three-dimensional statistical aortic arch model was built using principal component analysis. Results: The mean diameters of the ascending and descending aorta, and the origins of the innominate, left common carotid, and left subclavian artery were 39.4 ± 6.7, 34.5 ± 7.9, 18.0 ± 3.8, 12.6 ± 2.7, and 14.1 ± 2.5 mm, respectively. The length of the ascending aorta, innominate to left common carotid artery, and left common carotid to left subclavian artery were 62.6 ± 11.4, 12.0 ± 5.6, and 18.7 ± 5.6 mm along the centerline. The mean angle of curvature was 103.8 ± 25 degrees. Principal component analysis of the three-dimensional centerlines derived 3 main modes of variation, which account for 61% of the overall shape range. Conclusion: Aortic arch anatomical information from an elderly Asian population can be useful for the development of future endovascular devices.