Biomechanical evaluation of ascending aortic aneurysms

The biomechanical properties of ascending aortic aneurysms were investigated only in the last decade in a limited number of
studies. Indeed, in recent years, there has been a growing interest in this field in order to identify new predictive parameters of risk
of dissection, which may have clinical relevance. The researches performed so far have been conducted according to the methods
used in the study of abdominal aortic aneurysms. In most cases, uniaxial or biaxial tensile testswere used,while in a smaller number
of studies other methods, such as opening angle, bulge inflation, and inflation-extension tests, were used. However, parameters and
protocols of these tests are at present very heterogeneous in the studies reported in the literature, and, therefore, the results are
not comparable and are sometimes conflicting.The purpose of this review then thence to provide a comprehensive analysis of the
experimental methodology for determination of biomechanical properties in the specific field of aneurysms of the ascending aorta
to allow for better comparison and understanding of the results.