Viscosity reduction and flow across artificial in vitro stenoses

Abstract

To determine whether or not viscosity reduction would improve flow past a significant stenosis in a major artery an in vitro perfusion apparatus with 12 variable sized stenoses was used with whole blood at three different viscosity levels. A 36% reduction of the viscosity of whole blood by the addition of normal saline did not alter either the pressure flow relationships or the resistance to blood flow across any of the 12 stenoses ranging from 50% to 97%. We conclude that although change in viscosity may improve perfusion through the microcirculation it does not alter perfusion across a discrete arterial stenosis.