[Physical and physiological principles of calculating vascular resistance in cardiovascular circulation].

After reconstructive vascular surgery the quality of perfusion and the risk of failure can be predicted, if the distal outflow resistance of the graft is known. The laws of the hydrodynamics for the calculation of flow resistance in tubes are discussed with respect to their validity in the circulatory system. Because of great differences between the physiological realities and the physical assumption, and problems in monitoring some of the parameters of the equations, the calculation of the physiological vascular resistance according to the a.m. laws is not possible. With "Ohms law" of the hydrodynamic the calculation of the outflow resistance distal of a graft is possible if the flow through the bypass and the pressure losses in the outflow bed are known. Easier to perform is the measurement of the pressure-time integral generated by the injection of a standardized volume into the graft and the calculation of the outflow resistance with the help of a microprocessor.