In patients with arterial stenosis, what typically happens to the EDV?

In patients with arterial stenosis, the end diastolic velocity (EDV) typically rises significantly with severe stenosis. This phenomenon occurs because, as the arterial lumen narrows due to stenosis, blood flow becomes more turbulent and increases at the site of the narrowing. The significant drop in cross-sectional area results in a compensatory increase in flow velocity to maintain adequate blood supply downstream.

When stenosis becomes severe, the pressure differential across the narrowed segment increases, further elevating the flow velocity in an attempt to meet the metabolic demands of the tissue supplied by that artery. This is reflected by the increased EDV, which serves as an important indicator of the severity of the stenosis and its hemodynamic impact. Monitoring these changes in EDV can help clinicians assess the severity of arterial obstruction and the need for further intervention.