REGIONAL HEMODYNAMICS OF LARGE AND SMALL FEMORAL ARTERIOVENOUS-FISTULAS IN DOGS

  • 1 January 1976
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 79  (3) , 346-349
Abstract
Alterations in regional hemodyanamics were determined after construction of side-to-side femoral arteriovenous fistulas in dogs to quantitate the relationship between fistula size and reversal of distal arterial blood flow. When fistula size exceeded the transverse diameter of the femoral artery and vein (large fistula group), reversal in distal arterial blood flow was observed in all fistulas and measured 48 .+-. 7 ml/min. If the fistula size was approximately equal to these critical transverse diameters (small fistula group), distal arterial flow was reduced but reversal did not occur. Distal arterial and venous pressures were 42 .+-. 5 and 35 .+-. 4 mm Hg, respectively, for the large fistula group, and these pressures were 79 .+-. 5 and 17 .+-. 2 mm Hg, respectively, for the small fistula group. These pressure changes for the 2 groups were significantly different and may provide a better understanding of the physiology of the reversal phenomenon.