EXPERIMENTAL VALIDATION OF A 1D WAVE PROPAGATION MODEL FOR HEMODYNAMICS AFTER AVF SURGERY

Abstract

An arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a surgically created connection between an artery and vein in the arm, made for connecting hemodialysis patients to an artificial kidney [Tordoir, 2003]. Previously, a pulse wave propagation model was developed [Huberts, 2011] that has potential in supporting decision-making in AVF surgery by predicting mean postoperative flow. The model was able to select the same AVF configuration as an experienced vascular surgeon (> 1000 AVFs created) in 9/10 patients. Although the model might already be of clinical use, model improvements can be made since the predicted flow differed in 4/10 patients with flow measured after surgery. Differences can result either from inaccurate postoperative flow measurements, inaccurate model input, neglecting adaptation and/or an incomplete physical description of the pulse wave propagation after AVF surgery. To examine if the physical description is complete the model should be validated with an experimental setup. Moreover, the experimental setup gives the possibility to validate the pressure and flow waveforms which are required when adaptation laws will be incorporated in the model. Therefore, the aim of this study was to validate the pulse wave propagation model with an experimental setup mimicking AVF surgery.