Resume
Title Sampling Technique Research Design
Experimental Non Parametric To check the data normality, Kruskal-
Study of Wallis tests have been conducted for
Anisotropic all the tissue sample stiffnesses
Stress/Strain investigated. A value of = 0.05 is
Relationships of taken as the significance level of the
Aortic and Kruskal-Wallis test. For all aortic and
Pulmonary pulmonary artery homografts
Artery segments, probability distributions
Homografts and are the same for anterior and posterior
Synthetic aspects, when comparing all
Vascular Grafts orientations for each region under
true strain of 10%,20%, and 30%
(p>0.11 in all regions). For all Aortic
and pulmonary artery homografts
segments, probability distributions
are the same for different orientations
(C, D and L), when comparing both
aspects for each region under true
strain of 10%, 20%, and 30% (p>0.10
in all regions). For SVG-GORE-
TEX, when comparing all the
orientations, probability distributions
are the same under true strain of 10%
(p=0.051), but not the same under
true strain of 20% (p=0.027), and
30% (p=0.027). For EVG-IMPRA,
when comparing all the orientations,
probability distributions are the same
under true strain of 10%, 20%, and
30% (p>0.10).
Analysis (Non Parametric)
Most samples demonstrated a
nonlinear hyperelastic strain-stress
response to UTT. Stiffness
(measured by tangent modulus at
different strains) in all orientations
were compared and shown as
contour plots. For each vessel
segment at all strain levels, stiffness
was not significantly different
among aspects and orientations. For
synthetic grafts, stiffness was
significantly different among
orientations (p<0.042). Aorta is
significantly stiffer than pulmonary
artery at 10% strain, comparing all
orientations, aspects, and regions
(p=0.0001). Synthetic grafts are
significantly stiffer than aortic and
pulmonary homografts at all strain
levels (p<0.046). Aortic, pulmonary
artery, and synthetic grafts exhibit
hyperelastic biomechanical
behavior with anisotropic effect.
Differences in mechanical
properties among vascular grafts
may affect native tissue behavior
and ventricular/arterial mechanical
coupling, and increase the risk of
deformation due to abnormal CHD
hemodynamics.
Conclution
In conclusion, aortic and
pulmonary artery homografts
exhibit hyperelastic mechanical
characteristic with anisotropic
effect. The calibrated Holzapfel-
Gasser constitutive model can
be applied in surgical preparation
and related simulation to predict
anisotropic biomechanical
behavior. The synthetic vascular
grafts are significantly stiffer than
homografts. The mechanical
properties of SVG-GORE-TEX in
L orientation are comparable to
those of the homografts, and
this characteristic should be
considered by surgeons when
performing reconstructive
cardiovascular surgery with this
material. These differences
between aortic and pulmonary
artery homografts and synthetic
vascular grafts may play a role in
native neonatal tissue
behavior, ventricular/arterial
mechanical coupling, and risk of
deformation due to abnormal
hemodynamics of CHD.