Investigation on the effect of hematocrit on unsteady hemodynamic characteristics in arteriovenous graft using the multiphase blood model

Abstract

The hematocrit is increased during hemodialysis and a stenosis is associated with the critical range of hemodynamic characteristics that are affected by the hematocrit. However, the effect of hematocrit on unsteady hemodynamic characteristics during hemodialysis is still unclear. Hence, a numerical research is performed on the effect of hematocrit on unsteady hemodynamic characteristics using a multiphase blood model during one cardiac cycle. The effect of hematocrit appears clearly on high wall shear stress (HWSS) at the floor of the vein vessel. At the peak systole velocity, the HWSS varies from about 1% to 2% when the hematocrit varies by about 1%. At the end distal velocity, the HWSS varies by about 1% when hematocrit varies by 1%. On the other hand, the hematocrit has a very small effect on HWSS at the top of vein anastomosis. Also, these effects of hematocrit are the same on low wall shear stress and oscillatory shear index. Consequently, the variation of hematocrit at the floor of the vein anastomosis should be considered before other anastomosis regions at peak systole velocity.