An in Vitro Investigation of Steady Transitional Flow in an Arteriovenous Graft-to-Vein Anastomosis

Authors: NURULLAH ARSLAN

Abstract: Fluid flow analysis was experimentally performed inside a venous anastomosis of an arteriovenous (AV) graft-to-vein connection. Velocity measurements were conducted inside an upscaled end-to-side graft model under steady flow conditions at Reynolds numbers of 1000, 1800, and 2500, which are the representatives of in vivo flow conditions at diastolic, average, and systolic phases inside a human AV graft used for dialysis access. The distribution of the velocity and turbulence intensity was measured at several locations in the plane of the bifurcation and in the plane that is perpendicular to the plane of bifurcation. Critical flow regions, such as the separation region and high turbulence region, were found inside the anastomosis.

Keywords: Hemodialysis, Arteriovenous graft, Stenosis, Turbulence

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