Mechanical properties of the wall of the human abdominal aorta after endarterectomy

The deformation and strength properties of the wall of the human aorta have been studied after open endarterectomy. Specimens cut from the aorta wall and specimens subjected to endarterectomy at the levels of both the inner and outer elastic membranes were investigated. It was found that endarterectomy at the level of the inner elastic membrane does not affect the deformation properties of the wall but leads to an increase in strength as compared with the atherosclerotic wall. Endarterectomy at the level of the outer elastic membrane sharply reduces the deformability in the transverse direction as compared with the intact aorta.