Vascular pathological changes in rat lower extremity and timing of microsurgery after electrical trauma

The purpose of this study was to form a standard electrical trauma model in rat, to investigate the pathological changes in vessels, and to determine the best day for performing microsurgery. In the preliminary study, 20 rats were divided into five groups. One was control, and the rats in the other four groups were exposed to 240 V electrical potential for 5, 10, 15, and 20 seconds, respectively. Femoral vessels from each group were biopsied for electron and light microscopy. In the study group, 36 rats were subjected to 240 V electrical trauma for 18 seconds. The rats in the study group were divided into three groups. On days 3, 7, and 21, the femoral artery of nine rats in each group were cut and anastomosed. The anastomoses were followed for thrombus formation. Visible, respectively increasing necroses were seen in all animals in the second, third, and fourth preliminary study groups. Light and electron microscopy revealed degeneration of vessel walls and loss of endothelium. Second and third microsurgery study groups had statistically significantly more thrombus. Although after electrical trauma major vessels seem normal, they have pathological changes, and microsurgery success rates are decreased shortly after electrical trauma.