Numerical simulation of vein graft hemodynamics

This work is a preliminary study to numerically determine the velocity and wall shear stress pattern within an iliofemoral vein graft. The geometry was obtained using a computerized tomography scanner and the flow waveform was obtained using ultrasound flowmetry. The velocity results show the flow field varies significantly during the pulsatile cycle. Instantaneous wall shear stress values varied greatly during the cycle and along the graft. The irregularity of the vein diameter is due to its intrinsic taper, ligated side branches, lysed valves, and valve sinuses. This geometric variation caused the velocity profiles and wall shear stress to vary along the graft.