Arteriovenous flow reversal, experimental investigations. II. Hemodynamic and blood gas analyses in incomplete arteriovenous flow reversal in hind extremities of dogs.

2 types of incomplete arteriovenous flow reversal were tested. When the major arteries were patent, 20% of the blood shunted into a peripheral vein was drained via the arteries whereas 80% was drained via the veins of the leg. If the pressure in the arteries was raised, the flow through the arteries was stopped when the outflow pressure reached 25% of the systemic blood pressure. Under these conditions a moderate oxygen consumption of the peripheral tissues was still observed. When the major arteries and their branches were obstructed by the injection of collagen flocculi the oxygen supply to the tissues was again reduced but not completely abolished. It is concluded that the AVFR procedure may be helpful in avoiding peripheral gangrene in very severe cases of arterial disease. In the first paper of this series (Gottlob and Kunlin, 1985) the hemodynamics of complete arteriovenous flow reversal (AVFR) were studied. In the present communication experiments with incomplete AVFR will be reported on. The animal models described resemble the clinical condition in so far as incomplete AVFR is established and as in both models the flow through the peripheral arteries was hampered.