Endovascular Localization of Aortic Injury in a Porcine Model

• Published in: IEEE open journal of engineering in medicine and biology Vol. 6; pp. 425 - 431
• Main Authors: Arshad, Saaid H., Touzjian, Ryan L., Jones, Matthew C., Telfer, Brian A., Rall, Jason M., Hart, Theodore G., Causey, Marlin W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States IEEE 2025; The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (IEEE)
• Subjects: Animal models; Aorta; Arteries; Bleeding; Cardiovascular system; Catheters; Compressibility; Computational modeling; Endovascular; Feature extraction; Hemorrhage; Hemorrhaging; Implants; In vivo; In vivo methods and tests; Injuries; Localization; Location awareness; Medical instruments; Position measurement; prehospital; Pressure; Pressure measurement; Pressure sensors; prolonged field care; Swine; Torso; Velocity; Waveforms; localization; prehospital; Endovascular; prolonged field care; hemorrhage
• ISSN: 2644-1276; 2644-1276
• DOI: 10.1109/OJEMB.2025.3556987

Goal : Non-compressible torso hemorrhage represents a category of lethal injuries in both civilian and military traumatically injured populations that with proper intervention, training, or technological advancements are survivable. Endovascular localization of active bleeding in the pre-hospital setting can allow faster, less invasive, and more accurate applications of life-saving interventions. In this paper, we report initial in vivo and in silico experimental results to test the feasibility of endovascular localization of hemorrhage. Methods: Endovascular pressure waveforms were acquired on five pigs with an induced aortic injury via a custom intra-aortic catheter instrumented with four pressure sensors. Pressure and velocity data were then simulated on an in silico human aortic model with the same kind of injury. Results: A decrease in pulse pressure across the injury (proximal to distal) reliably indicated the injury location to within a few centimeters. The simulated model showed a similar decrease in pulse pressure as well as an increase in velocity . Conclusions: With additional refinement, localization accuracy may be sufficient for application of a modern covered stent to stop bleeding. The simulated model results indicate relevance for humans and provide guidance for future experiments.