Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 29, 2025
The Helsinki Rat Microsurgical Sidewall Aneurysm Model
Published on: October 12, 2014
Microsurgical arterial anastomosis in young and adult rats: an evolutive and comparative study
Maria Mercês Santos1, Ana Cristina Aoun Tannuri2, Adriana Vasconcelos Lacerda3
1PhD. Universidade de São Paulo - Medical School - Pediatric Liver Transplantation Unit and Laboratory of Research in Pediatric Surgery - Pediatric Surgery Division - São Paulo (SP), Brazil.
Purpose:
To evaluate the caliber of an arterial micro-anastomosis in the young growing animal using a continuous suture technique. Additionally, late morphological changes and blood flows distal to the anastomosis were evaluated.
Methods:
Seventy-four Wistar rats were submitted to laparotomy to access the aorta for blood flow measurement. The aorta was sectioned using microsurgery technique and an end-to-end anastomosis with continuous suture. After a period of six months to one year, the anastomosis was checked.
Results:
Regarding the size of the aortas, comparing the pre- and postoperative values, there was an increase of 13.33% in adult animals and 25% in young animals, without any difference in the blood flows.
Conclusions:
The arteries of young rats show signs of growth at the site of the anastomosis performed with continuous suture.
