Influence of Calcification on Plaque Failure Stability
1. Atherosclerosis of the Femoral ArteriesAtherosclerosis of the Femoral Arteries
Cunnane E.M.
Centre for Applied Biomedical Engineering Research (CABER),
Department of Mechanical, Aeronautical and Biomedical Engineering,
and Materials and Surface Science Institute (MSSI).
University of Limerick, Ireland.
2. Acknowledgements
• Atherosclerosis
– It is a chronic inflammatory response
– Arises due to lipid accumulation in intima
• Advancement of Disease:
– Cellular waste and calcium mineral deposits
– Leads to heavily calcified lesions
Introduction
5. Acknowledgements
Bypass Surgery:
– Surgical bypass is the gold standard
for femoral artery revascularisation
– It has a 5 year patency rate of nearly
80%
– However, it is highly invasive
Treatment
6. Acknowledgements
Angioplasty and Stenting:
– Deploys balloon to compress plaque
and stent to stabilise the artery.
– Advantages:
• Lower reintervention rates
• Higher 1 year primary patency
– However, numerous Problems
Remain…
Treatment Alternative
7. Acknowledgements
– 85% of procedures develop restenosis
– 65% of procedures develop reocclusion
– Re-intervention is required within 2
years in up to 54% of patients
– The per patient costs are greater
than cardiovascular and
cerebrovascular disease!!!
Issues in Angioplasty and Stenting
8. Acknowledgements
– Heavily calcified lesions have
been shown to destabilises
percutaneous intervention.
– This is due to the increase
risk of:
• Uncontrolled plaque rupture
• Sub-acute stent thrombosis
• In-stent restenosis
• Arterial dissection
Possible Causes of Issues
9. Acknowledgements
Assess the influence of calcification on
plaque failure stability
Achieve this through the mechanical testing
of human femoral plaque samples
Research Proposal
10. Acknowledgements
Assess the influence of calcification on
plaque failure stability
Achieve this through the mechanical testing
of human femoral plaque samples
Research Proposal
