[Microangiographic studies on the revascularization of free smooth muscle grafts]

The aim of the investigations was to find out exactly how and when revascularization of free transplanted smooth muscle took place. For this purpose a continent colostomy was performed on 15 dogs by sphincter plastics with a free autologous transplant. The dogs were killed between postoperative day 1 and 5, and their blood vessels were perfused with mixture of Indian ink and Ringers solution. The microangiographic observations of the microscopic section showed the following results. On postoperative day 1 at the edge of the transplant the vessels of the intestinal serosa were distinctly seen to have ellipsoid dilatation. On day 2 tiny filamentary branches of the vessels proliferated into the transplant and connected with the original vessels of the sphincter plastic. By days 4 and 5 this process was apparent.