Experimental gut anastomoses and their revascularization.
A study was made of the healing and revascularization of intestinal anastomoses in the small and large intestines of rabbits. Single-layer and double-layer suture, techniques were used and compared, and revascularization of the anastomoses was particularly examined after devascularization of their distal segments. The anastomotic segments were removed at intervals after construction varying from one to six weeks and studied histologically after haemotoxylin and eosin staining, by xylol-clear thick sections and by angiography, a gelatin Micropaque emulsion being used to fill the vascular network. Forty-four rabbit intestinal anastomoses were studied. Inverted intestinal anastomoses took about two weeks to develop continuous mucosa on the luminal side, and were completely healed after six weeks. Revascularization began after eight days with both single-layer and double-layer anastomoses, proceeding from the submucosal and the surrounding muscular layers. The vascular pattern mirrored the healing stage of the anastomosis. Irregular fine vessels crossing the anastomoses were seen in specimens examined at the second week. After three or four weeks, the vascular patterns of the anastomoses showed an irregularity of calibre and direction because of the presence of residual scar tissue, and the mucosal surfaces were covered with regenerating epithelium. Healing and revascularization were complete after six weeks.
D000792:Angiography; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000502:physiology; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000098:blood supply / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D007422:Intestines / Q000601:surgery*; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014945:Wound Healing