The liver is one of the most frequently injured abdominal organs in motor vehicle collisions. Although previous studies have quantified the tensile failure properties of human liver parenchyma at 48hrs postmortem, it is currently unknown how the material properties change between time of death and 48hrs postmortem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of postmortem degradation on the tensile material properties of bovine liver parenchyma when stored in DMEM or saline. Fourteen fresh bovine livers were obtained from a local slaughter house and stored in either DMEM or saline as large blocks, small blocks, or slices of tissue. Multiple parenchyma dog-bone samples from each liver were tested once to failure at three time points: ~6hrs, ~24hrs, and ~48hrs postmortem. The data were then analyzed to determine if there were significant changes in the material properties with respect to postmortem time. The results showed that the failure strain decreased significantly between 6hrs and 48hrs after death when stored as large blocks in saline. Conversely, neither the failure stress nor failure strain changed significantly with respect to postmortem time when stored as large blocks in DMEM. The modulus did not significantly change for tissue stored as large blocks in either fluid. Preliminary results indicated that reducing the tissue storage size had a negative effect on the material properties and cellular architecture. Overall, this study illustrated that the effects of postmortem liver degradation varied with respect to the preservation fluid, storage time, and storage block size. / MS / Although the liver is one of the most frequently injured abdominal organs in motor vehicle collisions (MVCs), currently accepted anthropomorphic test devices are unable to predict abdominal organ injury risk. Consequently, finite element models are becoming an important tool for assessing abdominal organ injury risk in MVCs. However, these models must be validated based on biomechanical data in order to accurately assess injury risk. Given that previous studies that have quantified the tensile failure properties of human liver parenchyma have been limited to testing at 48hrs postmortem, it is currently unknown how the material properties change between time of death and 48hrs postmortem. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to quantify the effects of postmortem degradation on the tensile material properties of bovine liver parenchyma with increasing postmortem time when stored in DMEM or saline. A total of 148 uniaxial tension tests were successfully conducted on parenchyma samples of fourteen bovine livers acquired immediately after death. Tissue was immersed in DMEM or saline and kept cool during preparation and storage. Twelve livers were stored as large blocks of tissue, while two livers were stored as small blocks and slices. Multiple dog-bone samples from each liver were tested once to failure at three time points: ~6hrs, ~24hrs, and ~48hrs after death. The data were then analyzed using a Linear Mixed Effect Model to determine if there were significant changes in the failure stress, failure strain, and modulus with respect to postmortem time. The results of the current study showed that the failure strain of bovine liver parenchyma decreased significantly between 6hrs and 48hrs after death when stored as large blocks in saline and refrigerated. Conversely, neither the failure stress nor failure strain changed significantly with respect to postmortem time when stored as large blocks in DMEM. The modulus did not significantly change for tissue stored as large blocks in either saline or DMEM. In addition, preliminary results indicated that reducing the tissue storage size had a negative effect on the material properties and cellular architecture. Overall, this study illustrated that the effects of postmortem liver degradation varied with respect to the preservation fluid, storage time, and storage block size.
Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/90179 |
Date | 21 December 2017 |
Creators | Dunford, Kristin Marie |
Contributors | Department of Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Kemper, Andrew R., Duma, Stefan M., Hardy, Warren N. |
Publisher | Virginia Tech |
Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
Detected Language | English |
Type | Thesis |
Format | ETD, application/pdf |
Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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