A comparative study of flap survival rates in end-to-end and end-to-side microvascular anastomosis

This study compared free flap survival rates following end-to-end and end-to-side arterial anastomoses. A groin flap was transferred to the anterior cervical region in 40 rats. There were 20 rats in each experimental group. The end-to-side group was further divided into subgroups depending on the angle of the anastomosis, which was either 60 degrees or 90 degrees. The results revealed no significant difference in the survival rates between any of the groups (which varied between 80 and 85 percent). A discussion of previous experimental work and the significance of these results has been presented. The advantages and disadvantages of end-to-side anastomoses have also been discussed.