Analyzing the contribution of vasa vasorum in oxygenation of the aneurysmal wall: A computational study

The mechanisms of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) formation and rupture are controversial in the literature. While the intraluminal thrombus (ILT) plays a crucial role in reducing oxygen flux to the tissue and therefore decreasing the aortic wall strength, other physiological parameters such as the vasa vasorum (VV) oxygen flow and its consumption contribute to altered oxygenation responses of the arterial tissue as well. The goal of this research is to analyse the importance of the aforementioned parameters on oxygen delivery to the aneurysmal wall in a patient-specific AAA. Numerical simulations of coupled blood flow and mass transport with varying levels of VV concentration and oxygen reaction rate coefficient are performed. The hypoperfusion of the adventitial VV and high oxygen consumption are observed to have critical effects on reducing aneurysmal tissue oxygen supply and can therefore exacerbate localized oxygen deprivation.