Arterio-venous fistulas (shunts between arteries and veins) are the preferred vascular
access for hemodialysis. Despite their superior patency, compared with synthetic tubes and
grafts, functional problems and inadequate flow rates are the common complications. Local
flow conditions, in particular low and oscillating wall shear stresses (WSS), are central to
vascular problems and a robust framework for analyzing flow conditions in vascular
structures could provide an understanding of the mechanisms leading to vascular …