Haemodynamic Recovery Properties of the Torsioned Testicular Artery Lumen

Abstract

Testicular artery torsion (twisting) is one such severe vascular condition that leads spermatic cord injury. In this study, we investigate the recovery response of a torsioned ram testicular artery in an isolated organ-culture flow loop with clinically relevant twisting modes (90°, 180°, 270° and 360° angles). Quantitative optical coherence tomography technique was employed to track changes in the lumen diameter, wall thickness and the three-dimensional shape of the vessel in the physiological pressure range (10-50 mmHg). As a control, pressure-flow characteristics of the untwisted arteries were studied when subjected to augmented blood flow conditions with physiological flow rates up to 36 ml/min. Both twist and C-shaped buckling modes were observed. Acute increase in pressure levels opened the narrowed lumen of the twisted arteries noninvasively at all twist angles (at ∼22 mmHg and ∼35 mmHg for 360°-twisted vessels during static and dynamic flow experiments, respectively). The association between the twist-opening flow rate and the vessel diameter was greatly influenced by the initial twist angle. The biomechanical characteristics of the normal (untwisted) and torsioned testicular arteries supported the utilization of blood flow augmentation as an effective therapeutic approach to modulate the vessel lumen and recover organ reperfusion.