Dilatation of Vascular Prostheses in Ascending Aortic Position: A Long-Term Follow-Up Computed Tomography Study with Comparison of Different Measurement Methods
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 30, 2026
Ultrasound Imaging of the Thoracic and Abdominal Aorta in Mice to Determine Aneurysm Dimensions
Published on: March 8, 2019
Marwan Hamiko1, Matthias Endlich1, Christian Krämer1
1Department of Cardiac Surgery, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
Background:
The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term dilatation of Hemashield Gold and Hemashield Platinum vascular prostheses in ascending aortic position using different measurement methods to obtain precise results.
Methods:
Between 1999 and 2007, 73 patients with Stanford type A dissection received ascending aortic replacement with Hemashield Gold and Hemashield Platinum prostheses. Measurements were performed using multiplanar reconstruction mode of electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated, multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in strictly orthogonal cross-sectional planes. Different methods of measurement were compared and maximum dilatation was estimated for different time spans.
Results:
Diameters calculated from the measured circumference showed a significant (p = 0.037) but clinically not relevant difference (0.1 mm) to the mean between the largest and the shortest cross-sectional diameter of the prosthesis. Dilatation after 24.2 ± 10.2 months was 8.5 ± 4.5%. Long-term dilatation after 91.8 ± 34 months amounted to 11.8 ± 4.2%.
Conclusion:
Based on ECG-gated MSCT images, the presented methods of measurement provided reliable results. Long-term analysis shows low dilatation rates for Hemashield prostheses, which therefore can be considered as safe from this point of view. Nevertheless, a maximal dilatation of 20% could be relevant in valve sparing root replacement. It remains unclear if a dilatation like this contributes to the formation of suture aneurysms.
