title: Hemodynamics for the vascular surgeon.
abstract: Basic principles of fluid dynamics and material properties underlie many facets of the diagnosis, treatment, and natural history of vascular disease. I review the concepts of total fluid energy and both viscous and inertial energy losses with reference to arterial occlusive disease. I contrast the vascular wall properties of arteries and veins and discuss the relevance of mechanical principles to arterial aneurysm. I review the pathophysiologic features of small and large arteriovenous fistula. Finally, I discuss the altered dynamics associated with venous obstruction and valvular insufficiency in light of recent noninvasive diagnostic techniques that provide simple rapid assessment of venous pathophysiologic features.
mesh_terms: D000783:Aneurysm / Q000503:physiopathology; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D001164:Arteriovenous Fistula / Q000473:pathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D004735:Energy Transfer; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D010991:Plethysmography; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*