Three-dimensional visualization of velocity profiles in the porcine abdominal aortic trifurcation

To study the local distribution of blood velocities in the abdominal aorta and trifurcation, hot-film anemometry was used for point blood velocity measurements in the entire cross-sectional area in the abdominal aorta and abdominal aortic trifurcation in pigs weighing 90 kg. The geometry was visualized by use of a casting procedure. General hemodynamic and geometric parameters in the abdominal aorta were comparable to values found in humans. The porcine trifurcation differed somewhat from the human bifurcation. The velocity measurements in the abdominal aorta showed consistently skewed velocity profiles with the highest velocities at the anterior vessel wall. No signs of developed turbulence were found. Velocity measurements in the external iliac vessels showed high velocities at the flow divider, and low velocities with signs of retrograde flow during part of diastole at the lateral vessel wall.