Computational prediction of thrombosis risk in Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial Fibrillation and Thromboembolic Events

Thromboembolic events, such as stroke and vascular dementia, are mainly caused by atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia which affects 1-2% of the population.

More than 90% of the left atrial thrombi generate in the left atrial appendage (LAA), a small like projection from the main body of the left atrium.

However, the function of the LAA and the hemodynamic processes occurring in this region during AF are still poorly known.

The aim of the project is to gain complete understanding of the LAA biomechanical and fluid-dynamic behaviour during physiological and pathological conditions by means of computational and experimental tools.

Specifically, engineering models allow studying and classifying different shapes of the LAA, and the use of advanced computational simulations provide important insights to investigate the phenomenon of blood clot formation in the different LAA shapes. The process is entirely non-invasive, as based only on medical imaging and on computer simulations.

Finally, having understood the relationship between LAA shape, blood flow phenomena and risk of thrombus formation, this work-flow could be translated in clinical practice, with the final goal to aid the clinicians in the selection of the optimal personalised clinical treatment.

Main Related Publications

• Bosi, G.M., Cook, A., Rai, R., Menezes, L., Schievano, S., Torii, R., Burriesci, G. (2018) Prediction of thrombosis risk by computational fluid dynamic simulations in the left atrial appendage. VPH-CaSE Young Researchers’ Conference: Frontiers of Simulation and Experimentation for Personalised Cardiovascular Management and Treatment, London, UK.
• Bosi, G.M., Cook, A., Rai, R., Menezes, L., Torii, R., Burriesci, G. (2018) On the relation between different Left Atrial Appendage morphologies and thrombosis risk: a Computational Fluid Dynamic analysis. 8^th World Congress of Biomechanics, Dublin, Ireland. (P2043)
• Bosi, G.M., Cook, A., Rai, R., Menezes, L., Schievano, S., Torii, R., Burriesci, G. (2017) Computational Fluid Dynamic Analysis of the Left Atrial Appendage to Predict Thrombosis Risk. 7^th International Conference on Computational Bioengineering, Compiègne, France.