Review of Current Advances in the Mechanical Description and Quantification of Aortic Dissection Mechanisms

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening event associated with a very poor outcome. A number of complex phenomena are involved in the initiation and propagation of the disease. Advances in the comprehension of the mechanisms leading to dissection have been made these last decades, thanks to improvements in imaging and experimental techniques. However, the micro-mechanics involved in triggering such rupture events remains poorly described and understood. It constitutes the primary focus of the present review. Towards the goal of detailing the dissection phenomenon, different experimental and modeling methods were used to investigate aortic dissection, and to understand the underlying phenomena involved. In the last ten years, research has tended to focus on the influence of microstructure on initiation and propagation of the dissection, leading to a number of multiscale models being developed. This review brings together all these materials in an attempt to identify main advances and remaining questions.

Automated summary

Aortic dissection is a life-threatening event with a poor outcome, involving complex phenomena that have been better understood in recent decades. However, the micro-mechanics behind the rupture events remains poorly described. Research has focused on understanding the influence of microstructure on the initiation and propagation of aortic dissection, leading to the development of multiscale models. This review aims to identify main advances and remaining questions in the field.