Fu, Alex A.

Purpose The purpose of the present article was to determine the changes in luminal vessel area, blood flow, and wall shear stress in both the inflow artery and the venous stenosis of arteriovenous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) grafts. Methods and materials Polytetrafluoroethylene grafts were placed from the carotid artery to the ipsilateral jugular vein in 8 castrated juvenile male pigs. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) with cine phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed 2 weeks after graft placement. Results The mean wall shear stress at the venous stenosis was 4 times higher than the control vein, while the inflow artery was only 2-fold higher. By day 14, venous stenosis had formed, which was characterized by narrowed area and elevated blood flow. Conclusion By day 14, there is venous stenosis formation in porcine arteriovenous PTFE grafts with increased shear stress with decreased area when compared to control vein.