Background:
The main clinical criterion for abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair operations is an AAA diameter ≥5.5 cm. When AAAs increase in size, specific changes occur in the mechanical properties of the aortic wall. Pulse-wave velocity (PWV) has been used as an indicator of vascular stiffness. A low PWV may predict AAA rupture risk and is an early predictor of cardiovascular mortality.
Methods:
We investigated the prognostic value of PWV before and after elective AAA repair procedures. Twenty four patients scheduled for an open AAA repair underwent a preoperative carotid-femoral aortic PWV measurement. A second aortic PWV measurement was carried out 6 months postoperatively.
Results:
The mean aortic PWV increased from 7.84 ± 1.85 preoperatively to 10.08 ± 1.57 m/sec 6 months postoperatively (mean change: 2.25; 95% confidence interval 1.4 to 3.1 m/sec; p<0.0001). The preprocedural PWV measurement did not correlate with AAA diameter (Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient ρ=0.12; p=0.59).
Conclusions:
Whether the increase in aortic PWV postoperatively suggests a decreased cardiovascular risk following AAA repair remains to be established. Aortic PWV should also be investigated as an adjunct tool for assessing AAA rupture risk.
Reproducibility of aortic pulse wave velocity measurements obtained with Phase Contrast Magnetic Resonance (PCMR) and applanation tonometry
