Abstract
Background: Ex vivo computer controlled circulatory reactors are advantageous for the investigation of circulatory systems. So far, most of the models have dealt with laminar or pulsatile flow. This study aimed to monitor blood vessel and vessel graft compliance continuously under physiological flow in real time. Methods: Human common iliac arteries and silicon tubes served as interposition grafts. Changes in wall diameter and displacement were analyzed. The artificial circulatory system (ACM) presented an “artificial heart” able to simulate various ejection pressures, ejection volumes (EV), and frequencies of pulsation (FP). ACM was validated by comparing medical data reconstructed with the 2D-speckle-tracking-technique (2DSTT). Results: Silicon tubes were more rigid compared to iliac arteries, as changes in diameter were approximately 48% lower (0.56 ± 0.007 mm vs. 0.83 ± 0.016 mm, p < 0.0001, for EV = 70 mL and FP = 60 min−1). Wall displacement was 2.3-fold less pronounced in silicon tubes (1.45 ± 0.032 mm vs. 5.79 ± 0.043 mm for iliac arteries (p < 0.0001)). FP and EV did not further increase differences in wall displacement between both types of grafts. There were no significant changes between results gathered from ACM and 2DSTT. Conclusions: The ACM was successfully validated by 2DSTT with the use of selected grafts. It may become a useful tool to investigate different types of vascular grafts.
Highlights
Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with the lifetime risk of more than 60% [1]
Our results demonstrated that simulation of vascular physiological conditions of blood hemodynamics in in an ex vivo bioengineering reactor requires grafts, as the application of silicon tubes an ex vivoin bioengineering reactor requires grafts, the application of silicon tubestoresulted resulted lower diameter changes andvascular a decrease of aswall displacement compared human in lower diameter changes and a decrease of wall displacement compared to human common iliac common iliac arteries
The artificial circulatory system (ACM) presented in the manuscript may become a useful tool to introduce different types and spatial configurations of vascular interpositions under various hemodynamic conditions
Summary
Cardiovascular diseases are the main causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide with the lifetime risk of more than 60% [1]. Both in vivo and ex vivo research is performed to find new strategies to protect the circulatory system [2]. In vivo experiments, performed mainly in animal models, may not directly reflect the changes in the human body, while clinical studies could raise ethical issues. Results: Silicon tubes were more rigid compared to iliac arteries, as changes in diameter were approximately 48% lower (0.56 ± 0.007 mm vs 0.83 ± 0.016 mm, p < 0.0001, for EV = 70 mL and FP = 60 min−1 )
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