Deployment of a digital twin using the coupled momentum method for fluid-structure interaction: a case study for aortic aneurysm
Authors: Creazzo Giacomo , Nannini Guido , Saitta Simone , Astori Davide , Gaudino Mario , Girardi Leonard N. , Weinsaft Jonathan W. , Redaelli Alberto 
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Dacron graft replacement is the standard therapy for ascending aorta aneurysm, involving the insertion of a prosthesis with lower compliance than native tissue, which can alter downstream hemodynamics and lead to adverse remodeling. Digital human twins (DHT), based on in-silico models, have the potential to predict biomarkers of adverse outcome and aid in designing optimal treatments tailored to the individual patient.

Objective

We propose a pipeline for deploying a digital human twin of the thoracic aorta to explore alternative solutions to traditional Dacron grafting, utilizing more compliant prostheses for reconstructing the ascending aorta.

Methods

We propose a DHT based on fluid-structure interaction (FSI) analysis of the thoracic aorta. We create 3 models of the patient, representing: i) the pre-operative baseline, ii) the post-operative with Dacron graft, and iii) a virtual post-operative using a compliant fibrous prosthesis. 3D geometry of the thoracic aorta for a patient with a congenital aneurysm, before and after the surgery, were reconstructed from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). As inlet boundary condition (BC), we assigned a time-varying 3D velocity profile extrapolated from 4D flow MRI. For the outlet BCs, we coupled 0D Winkler models, tuned to match the flow rate measured in the descending aorta from 4D flow. The aortic wall and the prosthetic graft were modeled as hyperelastic materials using the Holzapfel-Gasser constitutive model and tuned to patients distensibility. FSI analysis was run for two cardiac cycles.

Results

Results were validated against 4D flow data. Quantitative comparison of outflows between FSI and 4D flow yielded relative squared errors of 5.28% and 0.33% for models (i) and (ii), respectively. Wall shear stress (WSS) and strain increased in both post-surgical scenarios (ii) and (iii) compared to (i), with a lower increase observed in the virtual scenario (iii) (p¡0.001). However, the difference between scenarios (iii) and (ii) remained moderate on average (e.g., 0.6 Pa for WSS).

Conclusions

FSI analysis enables the deployment of reliable thoracic aorta DHTs to predict the impact of prostheses with different distensibility. Results indicate moderate yet promising benefits of more compliant fibrous devices on distal hemodynamics.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

The coupled momentum method for fluid-structure interaction analysis can be used to deploy a high fidelity digital twin of the aorta

Dacron graft induces an altered hemodynamic state in the descending aorta after ascending aorta correction.

Electrowriting can be used to fabricate more compliant grafts that mitigate the adverse effect of Dacron in the descending aorta.

The stress induced by a 2-folds more compliant (with respect to Dacron) graft is significantly lower

Despite the difference being relevant, it is moderate (1 Pa).