Factors influencing the failure of microsurgical composite tissue transplantation

To increase the possibility of successful composite tissue transplantations, it is important to decide where an anastomosis should be done if the recipient artery is damaged. Experiments in the reported study demonstrated first, that if there is a branch from a damaged artery that constitutes a sufficient collateral route, the success rate of anastomosis just above the branch is significantly higher than just below (p less than 0.01). Second, when recipient arteries are dissected in preparation for anastomosis, the vessels should have high-pressure outflow to assure a successful outcome. Third, if both recipient and donor arteries are normal and not damaged, anastomosis where turbulence is likely to occur will present no problems. Finally, anastomosis of vessels 0.7 mm in external diameter can be uniformly successful.