Key result
Aortic flow visualization reveals infrarenal flow separation across nearly all pulsatile flow conditions.
Why the study?
Hemodynamic effects in regions of the aorta and renal arteries have been suggested to participate in atherogenesis, but detailed flow behavior visualization was needed.
In vitro flow visualization in a human aorta-renal artery mold demonstrates that pulsatile flow causes hemodynamic disturbances at nearly all branch-to-trunk flow ratios, providing insight into potential mechanisms of atherogenesis.
Disturbed flow at aortic branches may link hemodynamics to atherogenesis; leaves open in vivo relevance and clinical translation.
To study the flow behavior in regions where hemodynamic effects have been suggested to participate in atherogenesis, we evaluated flow in a mold of the aorta and renal arteries of a previously healthy 27-year-old woman who died of trauma. A birefringent solution (vanadium-pentoxide) was used. When diluted, this material behaves like a Newtonian fluid. This method gives a complete picture of the entire flow field. Zones of flow separation and disturbed flow can be seen and the location and size of disturbed areas observed. Unseparated flow regions downstream from disturbed zones can be properly visualized and the method can be used for pulsatile flow as well as steady flow. During steady flow (only at branch to-trunk flow ratios greater than 0.20), zones of flow separation were observed in the aorta distal to the renal arteries. During pulsatile flow, disturbances were found at nearly all branch-to-trunk flow ratios.
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Liepsch et al. (1989) studied Healthy (n=1). Flow visualization using a birefringent solution (vanadium-pentoxide) under steady and pulsatile flow was evaluated on Flow behavior (zones of flow separation and disturbed flow). Flow visualization in an aortic mold demonstrated zones of flow separation in the aorta distal to the renal arteries during steady flow (at branch-to-trunk ratios >0.20) and nearly all pulsatile flows.
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