Causal Relationship between Celiac Stenosis and Pancreaticoduodenal Artery Aneurysm: Interpretation by Simulation Using an Electric Circuit

Figure 4

Actual construction of an electric simulation circuit on a breadboard. Note that the dimension of the breadboard is . (a) No voltage source applied. (b) 12 V direct current (DC) applied, with the CA potentiometer set to 0 Ω and the PDA potentiometer to 50 kΩ, respectively, simulating normal status. (c) The CA potentiometer was set to 50 kΩ, while the PDA potentiometer remained at 50 kΩ, simulating the CA stenosis without the PDA aneurysm. Note that the PDA light-emitting diode (LED) became brighter than the normal status, suggesting an increase in PDA flow. (d) The CA potentiometer remained at 50 kΩ, and the PDA potentiometer was decreased to 0 Ω, simulating CA stenosis with PDA aneurysm, the preoperative status of the presented case. Note that the CA LED is almost off, suggesting the absence of the CA flow. (e) The CA potentiometer was set to 0 Ω, while the PDA potentiometer was set to 0 Ω, simulating PDA aneurysm without CA stenosis. The PDA LED became brighter than the normal status without dimming of the CA LED. (f) The CA potentiometer was set to 50 kΩ, and the PDA potentiometer was set to 50 kΩ, simulating the postoperative status of the presented case. Note that the CA LED was dimly lit, suggesting reconstitution of the CA flow. CA: celiac artery; PDA: pancreaticoduodenal artery.

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