Microvascular repair following local crush and avulsion vascular injury

A model has been developed demonstrating intimal damage resulting from a combined crush and avulsion injury to the femoral artery of the rat. Revascularization after traumatization is accomplished with microvascular anastomosis of the severed ends. Vascular patency rates at 2 and 7 days postoperatively are low (0-25%) in comparison with control groups (90-100%). A high correlation is found between patency tests performed at 20 minutes and at 2 days after blood flow re-establishment. Systemically administered heparin improves traumatized-vessel patency dramatically.