The growth potential of small arteries repaired by microsurgical technique

A study to determine the growth potential of immature microvessels was carried out using rat femoral arteries. Immature rat arteries repaired with interrupted 10-0 nylon sutures grew in proportion to the animal. There were no areas of stenosis at repair sites, which in some animals appeared slightly dilated compared with control vessels. The ultrastructure of repaired arteries after growth was mildly altered in the internal and external elastic membrane layers while the intima and media appear normal. Neovascularization around anastomoses may explain an apparent increased blood flow velocity at repair sites and does not correspond to arterial narrowing in this model.