Abstract
Three-dimensional (3D) wall motion tracking (WMT) based on ultrasound imaging enables
estimation of aortic wall motion and deformation. It provides insights into changes
in vascular compliance and vessel wall properties essential for understanding the
pathogenesis and progression of aortic diseases. In this report, we employed the novel
3D WMT analysis on the ascending aorta aneurysm (AA) to estimate local aortic wall
motion and strain in case of a patient scheduled for replacement of the aortic root.
Although progression of the diameter indicates surgical therapy, at present we addressed
the question for optimal surgical time point. According to the data, AA in our case
has enlarged diameter and subsequent reduced circumferential wall strain, but area
tracking data reveals almost normal elastic properties. Virtual remodeling of the
aortic root opens a play list for different loading conditions to determine optimal
surgical intervention in time.
Keywords
aortic disease - aneurysm - biomechanics - echocardiography
