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Simulations Improve Predictability of Aneurysm Development

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    Simulations Improve Predictability of Aneurysm Development

    ScienceDaily (Nov. 2, 2012) — Brain aneurysms occur in about six percent of the population. They are dilated sections of blood vessels, which can deteriorate over time until the blood vessel wall ruptures, resulting in a haemorrhage. This causes a loss of mental functions and severe headaches. Haemorrhages of this kind can even be life threatening. The treatment of such patients involves complex medical decision-making. Models developed by Julia Mikhal can be of great use in this regard. She uses information obtained from brain scans, in combination with fluid dynamics models, to predict flows and forces in the affected part of the brain.



    Patient specific

    Using the immersed boundary method, Dr Mikhal can calculate fluid flows and the forces exerted on blood vessel walls. This allows her to perform generic model calculations and to obtain a detailed picture of individual patients' specific situations, as a function of space and time. Flow calculations reveal which parts of the vessel wall are at greater or lesser risk of further deterioration. Without such information, it is difficult to make accurate predictions about the future development of the aneurysm. One of the insights produced by these calculations is that the larger the aneurysm, the greater the fluctuations in flow behaviour. These fluctuations are probably a reliable measure of gradually increasing risk levels.

    Julia Mikhal's work will enable the entire process to be automated, starting from the collection of a patient's medical data right through to the fluid-mechanical analysis of the flows and forces involved. This generates predictions that have a reliable margin of error, which greatly assists medical specialists in the process of decision making. The key factors in preventing the situation from worsening are speed, reliability, and a rational consideration of the alternatives.

    Julia Mikhal conducted her research in Prof. Bernard Geurts' Multiscale Modelling and Simulation group. This group is attached to two University of Twente research institutes: the MIRA Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Technical Medicine, and the MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology
    sigpicTo see a world in a grain of sand,
    And a heaven in a wild flower,
    Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
    And eternity in an hour. - William Blake.

    #2
    Wow Nat, this is a very good study...I would love to know what mine would show as far as developing another aneurysm or if the large on I have is completely occluded !

    Thanks for posting , I look forward to more readings on this , Happy Thanksgiving Honey Ging xx

    Comment


      #3
      I know, I agree with you - I'd love to see what mine shows. In my last few tests my annie seems to be fluctuating going from 7.5 mm to 6.8mm???? The NS brushed it off as just being a discrepancy in previous scans but I'm not so sure after reading this study. My doc wants me to get another opinion now - I never mentioned this study and yet he independently said that it could very well be that my annie is fluctuating in size. I have had a few pretty bad symptoms in the past few months - even was taken by ambulance from a lecture at uni to hospital a few months ago because I was slurring my words and was disoriented...of course I had no idea I was like that (another worrying sign!) and it was my lecturer who noticed these sypmtoms and stopped the lecture and called an ambulance. I did have a very bad pain at the base of my skull and back of my neck and was quite nauseous too - I was a bit worried!! A CTA showed no signs of bleeding and after a few hours they let me go home.
      Last edited by Beachgirl; 11-20-2012, 07:41 PM.
      sigpicTo see a world in a grain of sand,
      And a heaven in a wild flower,
      Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
      And eternity in an hour. - William Blake.

      Comment

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