Finite element analysis of wall stress in the equine pulmonary artery

Summary Reasons for performing study: Arterial calcification is found frequently in the pulmonary artery of racehorses, but the aetiology is unknown. Calcification might be associated with increased wall stress due to arterial geometry (shape) and exercise‐induced hypertension. Hypothesis: High wall...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Equine veterinary journal 2010, Vol.42 (1), p.68-72
Main Authors: Teeter, M.G, Arroyo, L.G, Bakker, J.D, Hayes, M.A, Viel, L, Runciman, R.J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
arterial calcification
arteries
atherosclerosis
Biomechanical Phenomena
blood circulation
blood vessels
calcification
Computer Simulation
epidemiological studies
Finite Element Analysis
horse
horse diseases
Horses - physiology
hypertension
lungs
mechanical stress
Models, Biological
morphometry
MRI
pathogenesis
pressure
pulmonary artery
Pulmonary Artery - physiology
racehorses
risk groups
shape
stress tolerance
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Summary:Summary Reasons for performing study: Arterial calcification is found frequently in the pulmonary artery of racehorses, but the aetiology is unknown. Calcification might be associated with increased wall stress due to arterial geometry (shape) and exercise‐induced hypertension. Hypothesis: High wall stress levels are found in the regions associated with calcified lesion formation, exacerbated as transluminal pressure increases to levels associated with exercise. Methods: The pulmonary arteries of 5 horses, unaffected by calcification, were dissected and pressurised to resting and exercising physiological transluminal pressures and scanned with MRI. Arterial geometries were reconstructed to form 3D computer models and finite element analyses performed. Wall stress levels were measured in 4 regions of interest: the arterial trunk and bifurcation, the wall ipsilateral and contralateral to the bifurcation. Measurements were made for arterial transluminal pressures of 25, 50 and 100 mmHg. Results: High wall stress levels were consistently found at the pulmonary artery bifurcation and wall ipsilateral to the bifurcation, where calcified lesions typically form. Lower wall stress levels were found along the trunk and the wall contralateral to the bifurcation where lesions are less frequently found. Wall stress levels increased 5‐fold over a 4‐fold increase in pressure. The wall stress levels ranged 10 kPa in the wall of the branch contralateral to the bifurcation at 25 mmHg to 400 kPa in the bifurcation at 100 mmHg. Conclusions: Wall stress from arterial geometry and increased pulmonary artery transluminal pressure are factors that may be associated with calcification of the equine pulmonary artery. Potential relevance: Arterial calcification may increase the risk of arterial wall failure in racing horses.
ISSN:0425-1644
2042-3306
DOI:10.2746/042516409X464131