[Microvascular complications following replantations and revascularisations]

What are the options for early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of the occlusion of microvascular anastomosis after replantations? METHOD AND (CLINICAL) MATERIAL: This is a retrospective analysis of 336 cases involving primary microvascular repair after an injury between 1984 and 2000. In 272 cases this was a revascularisation and in 187 a replantation. In 23 cases the vascular anastomosis was located proximal to the wrist (macroreplantations) and 313 times distal to it (microreplantations/-revascularisations).

Vascular complications developed in seven and 54 cases respectively. 40 % of these 61 patients showed a severe soft tissue compromise or/and had sustained an injury known to cause widespread intima lesions (15 avulsions, six crush injuries, one blast, one gun shoot, one RTA). 37 of the 61 patients had been injured by circulating saws. There were 34 arterial and 22 venous occlusions, four no-reflow-syndromes and one HIT-syndrome. Almost 90 % of these vascular complications occurred within the first four post-operative days, 50 % even within the first 36 hours. Treatment was surgical in 39/61 cases and conservative 22 times. In 55 % (33/61) of all cases this treatment was successful.

With an overall incidence of 1 : 6 vascular crisis is not only the most consequential but also the most common post-operative complication after replantations. Timely operative and/or non-operative therapeutic measures can save more than half of the replants affected.