Abstract
The treatment of abdominal aorta aneurysm is aimed at decreasing pressure on the arterial wall which is thought to cause growth and eventual rupture of the aneurysm. If significant pressure is transmitted across percutaneously placed stem-grafts, they may prove unacceptable for abdominal aorta aneurysm repair. Therefore, we developed an in mm model to study transmission of pressure across various materials implanted in an aneurysmal lumen. A pinch roller model producing pulsatile flow through an aneurysm fashioned from heated polyethylene was used with H2O, glycerol and heparinized bovine blood. Continuous pressure readings obtained from 3 sites (above, below and mid aneurysm) were compared between different materials including bare metal stent, dacron. polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft, graft plus stent and silicone covered metal stent. Bare metal is less effective than dacron or PTFE graft in reducing the systolic/diastolic gradient. Transmitted pressure amplitude is further diminished by combining graft material with a metal stent. This model is effective for measuring pressure transmitted through an artificial conduit. This model may be modified to simulate the combined effect of extraluminal pressure plus persistent lumbar flow to further study abdominal aorta aneurysm stent graft procedures and ideal stent/graft properties.