Effect of nicotine on blood flow and patency of experimental microvascular anastomosis

Nicotine is known to have deleterious effects on the cardiovascular system, causing vasoconstriction and increased blood pressure. A drop in blood-flow velocity in humans, endothelial damage in rats, and inhibition of platelet aggregation in rabbits' blood have all been shown experimentally. In this article two studies are described that investigate the effects of nicotine on microvascular anastomotic patency. In experiment 1, electromagnetic blood-flow recordings were made in the saphenous artery of the saphenous flap after intraarterial installation of nicotine. Decreased blood flow was consistently recorded up to a maximum of 72% of normal flow. In experiment 2, rabbit femoral arteries were anastomosed and the patency rates at three weeks checked after various combinations of pre- and postoperative intraperitoneal nicotine had been injected. There was no significant increase in thrombosis between the groups treated with nicotine and the control. Although no thrombosis occurred in these experiments, decreased blood flow was noted in the saphenous flap in the dog. This slowing of flow should predispose to thrombosis, especially if other factors associated with the vascular repair were suboptimal. It is concluded in view of this study and the observed clinical effects in 2 patients with microvascular transfer that smoking in the perioperative period should be avoided.