TaebiLab Podcast, Ep 07: Assessing hemodynamic changes in cerebral aneurysms post coil embolization

Welcome to the 7th episode of the Taebi Lab podcast! In this episode, we delve into our recent paper published in the ASME Journal of Medical Diagnostics titled "Assessing hemodynamic changes in cerebral aneurysms post coil embolization: A preliminary investigation." You can read the full paper using the following link: https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4067534

Cite this paper as:
Monfared, M., Hollingsworth, L., Gamage, P. T., & Taebi, A. (2025). Assessing Hemodynamic Changes in Cerebral Aneurysms Post Coil Embolization: A Preliminary Investigation. Journal of Engineering and Science in Medical Diagnostics and Therapy, 8(3), 031014.

Explore how advanced engineering tools like Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) are being used to study treatments for cerebral aneurysms. A cerebral aneurysm, also known as an intracranial aneurysm, is a localized dilation or bulging of a blood vessel wall in the brain. These can be significant health concerns and ruptured cerebral aneurysms have high fatality rates.

One standard treatment option for intracranial aneurysms is endovascular coiling (coil embolization). This procedure involves filling the aneurysm with coils.

This video discusses our research that utilized CFD modeling to investigate the flow characteristics and hemodynamic parameters in cerebral arteries before and after endovascular embolization treatments in three patient-specific geometries with aneurysms. The goal of this research was to assess hemodynamic changes post coil embolization.
In these CFD simulations, the coiled aneurysm area was modeled as a porous domain, which represents the presence of coils. The study compared pre- and post-treatment conditions, analyzing changes in parameters like velocity profiles, streamlines, and wall shear stress (WSS). Different porosity values, related to the coil packing density, were also evaluated to see their effect on fluid flow.

Key findings from this research include:
• The coiling model with different porosity values led to a redirection of blood flow away from the aneurysm sac.
• As the porosity within the aneurysm decreases (meaning more coils are added), blood flow circulation within the aneurysm diminishes, potentially leading to blockage.
• Changes in shear stress were observed, indicating potential alterations in susceptibility to vascular remodeling. Specifically, a decrease in WSS was noted in the upstream branches and in the near-neck region of the aneurysm post-treatment.
• The findings suggest that the coiling procedure should be viewed as a personalized treatment, which may vary depending on the patient and the size and number of aneurysms.

This research highlights the potential of using CFD simulations to predict hemodynamic parameters and assist clinicians in personalized treatment planning for cerebral aneurysms.

[ Narration, script, and music is created by AI ]