Thoracic Stent Graft Numerical Models To Virtually Simulate Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repair: A Scoping Review

Objective: Pre-procedural planning of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) may implement computational adjuncts to predict technical and clinical outcomes. The aim of this scoping review was to explore the currently available TEVAR procedure and stent graft modelling options. Data sources: PubMed (MEDLINE), Scopus, and Web of Science were systematically searched (English language, up to 9 December 2022) for studies presenting a virtual thoracic stent graft model or TEVAR simulation. Review methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was followed. Qualitative and quantitative data were extracted, compared, grouped, and described. Quality assessment was performed using a 16 item rating rubric. Results: Fourteen studies were included. Among the currently available in silico simulations of TEVAR, severe heterogeneity exists in study characteristics, methodological details, and evaluated outcomes. Ten studies (71.4%) were published during the last five years. Eleven studies (78.6%) included heterogeneous clinical data to reconstruct patient specific aortic anatomy and disease (e.g., type B aortic dissection, thoracic aortic aneurysm) from computed tomography angiography imaging. Three studies (21.4%) constructed idealised aortic models with literature input. The applied numerical methods consisted of computational fluid dynamics analysing aortic haemodynamics in three studies (21.4%) and finite element analysis analysing structural mechanics in the others (78.6%), including or excluding aortic wall mechanical properties. The thoracic stent graft was modelled as two separate components (e.g., graft, nitinol) in 10 studies (71.4%), as a one component homogenised approximation (n = 3, 21.4%), or including nitinol rings only (n = 1, 7.1%). Other simulation components included the catheter for virtual TEVAR deployment and numerous outcomes (e.g., Von Mises stresses, stent graft apposition, drag forces) were evaluated. Conclusion: This scoping review identified 14 severely heterogeneous TEVAR simulation models, mostly of intermediate quality. The review concludes there is a need for continuous collaborative efforts to improve the homogeneity, credibility, and reliability of TEVAR simulations.