Intraoperative heparin in replantation surgery--an experimental study

An experimental study to define the usefulness of heparin in microvascular surgery was undertaken. Fifty-four rabbits underwent replantation of an amputated ear. The animals were randomly divided into two groups--"heparin" and "no heparin," with 27 animals in each group. Arterial patency was recorded based on direct microscopic observation of the anastomosed vessels prior to wound closure and on subsequent viability or necrosis of the ear during the surgical procedure was markedly enhanced by the use of intraoperative heparinization. The overall patency rate for the heparin group was 74%, whereas that of the no-heparin group was 44%--a statistically significant difference. This study confirms the value of intraoperative heparin in experimental replantation surgery using a rabbit ear model.