Computer simulation helps predict cerebral aneurysms

• Published in: Journal of medical engineering & technology Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 179 - 181
• Main Author: ORTEGA, H. V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Taylor & Francis 01-07-1998
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Cerebral Angiography; Cerebrovascular Circulation; Computer Simulation; Computerized, statistical medical data processing and models in biomedicine; Intracranial Aneurysm - diagnosis; Intracranial Aneurysm - diagnostic imaging; Intracranial Aneurysm - physiopathology; Medical computing and teaching; Medical sciences; Rabbits; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; Human; Intracranial; Nervous system diseases; Computer simulation; Aneurysm; Prediction; Cardiovascular disease; Artery; Cerebral disorder; Arterial disease; Vascular disease; Biomedical data processing; Central nervous system disease; Cerebrovascular disease
• ISSN: 0309-1902; 1464-522X
• DOI: 10.3109/03091909809032537

Researchers have recently proven the ability of computer simulation to predict the behaviour of cerebral aneurysms. Accurately simulating the flow of blood within the aneurysm helps researchers to predict the growth pattern of the aneurysm and the danger of rupturing. As this tool is further developed into a practical diagnostic tool, it is expected to dramatically improve the ability of surgeons to weigh the results of alternate treatment methods. The simulation method used, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), provides much more information than current diagnostic tools, including particularly shear stress levels at various stages of the cardiac cycle, which help to pinpoint areas of aneurysm formation and growth.