Trombosi venosa profunda: Estudi dels efectes del caminar i de la implantació de filtres de vena cava amb simulacions biomecàniques

Identifier:  TDX:2835

Handle: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11797/TDX2835

Authors:  López Besora, Josep Maria

Abstract:
'Deep vein thrombosis: Study of the effects of walking and of the implantation of vena cava filters through biomechanical simulations'. This thesis describes a research that was carried out through computer simulations. The objective was to study specific aspects related to deep vein thrombosis. These aspects were studied from a purely mechanical point of view, in two different situations: effects of walking on a thrombotic popliteal vein, and effects of the implantation of four different vena cava filters. The problem was approached by calculating the values of the physical magnitudes that describe the most relevant aspects by means of numerical simulations. Several methodologies were developed to design and implement these simulations. For these purposes some taylor-made codes were created to be used along with a set of open source software packages. Regarding the effects of walking on the popliteal vein it was concluded that the extension/compression of the semimembranous muscle yields an increase of the vein diameter and an improvement in the blood flow. It was also concluded and quantified to what extent this improvement in blood flow is reduced when blood flow is increased. Regarding vena cava filters, the most relevant conclusions are related to the effect of blood flow on the filters themselves. The forces of friction and pressure exerted on the filters in different conditions of flow rates or blood viscosities have been quantified. Four different filters could be compared quantitatively with respect to the forces exerted on them. In addition reliable estimates of the total forces exerted for all filters when there are variations in flow/heart rate and/or blood viscosity were obtained.