Evaluation of Distensibility and Stiffness of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Authors

  • Kaushal Kishore Tiwari Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, College of Medical Sciences, Teaching Hospital, Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal
  • Stefano Bevilacqua Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery, FTGM, G. Pasquinucci Heart Hospital, Massa, Italy
  • Giovanni Aquaro MRI Laboratory, FTGM, CNR, Pisa, Italy
  • Pierluigi Festa MRI Laboratory, FTGM, CNR, Pisa, Italy
  • Lamia Ait-Ali MRI Laboratory, FTGM, CNR, Pisa, Italy
  • Marco Solinas Department of Adult Cardiac Surgery, FTGM, G. Pasquinucci Heart Hospital, Massa, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.2852

Abstract

Introduction: Magnetic resonance imaging emerging as a new tool for the diagnosis and evaluation of ascending aortic aneurysm. The aim of our study is to evaluate in vivo distensibility and pulse wave velocity of the aortic wall using functional magnetic resonance imaging technique.
Methods: We enrolled 25 patients undergoing surgery for ascending aortic aneurysm and or aortic valve replacement for a period of 8 months. Preoperatively, all the patients underwent functional MRI study of the aorta. Aortic wall distensibility and pulse wave velocity of ascending aorta was evaluated.
Results: Mean age of the patient was 66 years (66.68 ± 5.62 years) with 60% (15) male patients. More than fifty percentages of patients were smoker (52%), hypertensive (64%) and diabetic (56%). We have observed significant decrease of distensibilty in the patients with aortic diameter above 50 mm (p-0.0002). Furthermore, we have found a significant inverse correlation between aortic distensibility and pulse wave velocity (R= -0.650, R2= 0.42, p-0.0004). Similarly, we have found a significant inverse correlation between ascending aortic diameter and distensibility of the aorta (R= -0.785, R2= 0.61, p-0.00001). Statistically significant positive correlation was observed between aortic diameter and pulse wave velocity (R= 0.865, R2= 0.74, p-0.00001).
Conclusions: MRI measurement of aortic diameters, distensibility, and flow wave velocity is an easy, reliable and reproducible technique. Distensibility and pulse wave velocity define the elasticity of the aorta. We have observed that elasticity of aortic wall is decreased in ascending aorta aneurysm patients.

Keywords: ascending aorta aneurysm; distensibility; pulse wave velocity; MRI. | PubMed

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Published

2016-12-23

How to Cite

Tiwari, K. K., Bevilacqua, S., Aquaro, G., Festa, P., Ait-Ali, L., & Solinas, M. (2016). Evaluation of Distensibility and Stiffness of Ascending Aortic Aneurysm using Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Journal of Nepal Medical Association, 55(204), 67–71. https://doi.org/10.31729/jnma.2852

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Original Article