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Ventral hernia repair is a frequently performed surgical procedure that needs to be improved in order to reduce the number of hernia recurrences, and postoperative pain and discomfort. A computational mechanics-based approach to this problem requires a plausible model of the human abdominal wall–surgical mesh system. However, one of the obstacles to modelling is the existence of uncertainties. We need to cope with uncertainties that are related to inaccuracies in models and data, and those that are caused by lack of knowledge. In case of natural materials like biological tissue, especially important are also uncertainties related to the natural variability of properties and shapes. The variability of the geometry of the abdominal wall is relatively high. Constructing a model of the abdominal wall with realistic geometry based on medical images is time-consuming. However, numerical studies on ventral hernia based on one specific geometry of the abdominal wall may have limited applicability. The aim of this project is to include variability of the shape of the abdominal wall in computational modelling and study its effect on the behaviour of the abdominal wall-surgical mesh system. A methodology combining statistical shape modelling and uncertainty quantification with sensitivity analysis will be proposed in order to construct a credible model of the abdominal wall-implant system for the purposes of improvement of ventral hernia treatment. The main results will be: • a statistical shape model of the abdominal wall. It may be useful not only in the context of ventral hernia, but also in order to answer other medical questions, e.g. issues of abdominal wall closure; • determination of the effect of shape variability on the behaviour of the abdominal wall with surgical mesh in comparison with uncertainties from other sources, e.g., in material properties; • establishing an effective methodology for combining statistical shape modelling and uncertainty quantification with sensitivity analysis in the context of constructing credible models. The final conclusions will be useful from the point of view of surgical practice. The project may also lead to further personalization of hernia treatment and patient-specific modelling
Details
- Financial Program Name:
- SONATA
- Organization:
- Narodowe Centrum Nauki (NCN) (National Science Centre)
- Realisation period:
- 2023-10-02 - 2026-10-01
- Project manager:
- dr inż. Katarzyna Szepietowska
- Team members:
-
- Student-scholarship Aleksandra Kondrusik
- Student-scholarship Wiktoria Korbut
- Student - scholarship Zuzanna Iwicka
- Realised in:
- Structural Mechanics Department
- External institutions
participating in project: -
- Gdański Uniwersytet Medyczny (Poland)
- Project's value:
- 782 212.00 PLN
- Request type:
- National Research Programmes
- Domestic:
- Domestic project
- Verified by:
- Gdańsk University of Technology
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