Flow Dynamics of Aneurysm Growth and Rupture: Challenges for the Development of Computational Flow Dynamics as a Diagnostic Tool to Detect Rupture-Prone Aneurysms

Saccular intracranial aneurysm (sIA) is a relatively common disease that can potentially cause a devastating, life-threatening intracranial hemorrhage. Many sIAs never rupture and thus do not necessitate interventions, making the detection of rupture-prone sIAs a very relevant clinical problem. Moreover, because currently available methods to prevent sIA rupture have significant risks of morbidity and mortality, diagnostic tools that can predict imminent rupture and help plan proper timing of prophylactic interventions, can improve patient care. Hemorrhage from an sIA occurs when hemodynamic stress exceeds sIA wall strength. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a tool with which the hemodynamic stress to which the sIA wall is exposed can be determined non-invasively. Studies using CFD in sIAs have demonstrated associations of wall shear stress (WSS) with aneurysm growth, fragile sIA wall, and sIA rupture; these studies show the potential of CFD as a diagnostic tool. This review discusses the limitations of CFD and of the studies performed, and what needs to be done in order to develop CFD into a useful diagnostic tool to determine aneurysm-specific rupture risk.