Increased Laminar Blood Flow in AVF Patients

In most cases blood flow in body is laminar. Laminar flow is characterized by concentric layers of blood moving parallel down the length of the blood vessel. Adjacent to the vessel wall there is very little blood flow, with the velocity increasing as the layers extend towards the center of the vessel. The orderly movement of adjacent layers of blood flow and the steady flow conditions minimize interactions between the layers of blood and the wall of the blood vessel, reducing energy losses in blood flow.

Disruption of laminar flow, constriction of the blood vessel or obstruction of the vessel lumen cause an increase in the blood flow and in its velocity. The flow stops being linear and smooth, and rather takes on a chaotic rhythm, known as turbulence.

The friction caused by the turbulence increases energy loss and generates heat. 

Such turbulence is, in fact, the pathophysiology underlying stenosis formation, with research showing that nearly half of the patients AV fistulas for hemodialysis develop venous stenosis, caused by scarring of the arteries. Stenosis and thrombosis caused by stenosis are considered to be the most common complication of arteriovenous access for hemodialysis and may cause lack of maturation of the fistula or critical lack of function later on, reducing the quality of the dialysis, prolonged bleeding, pain and increased venous pressure.

In an attempt to minimize flow disturbances around fistula site, reduce turbulence and increase venous wall tension, Laminate has developed VasQ. VasQ is an implant externally surrounding and supporting the vein and artery, this allowing for high primary patency rates and flow rates, good maturation rates and an increase in fistula maturation rates.

For more information about VasQ please visit our website at http://www.laminatemedical.com/.