Poor surgical technique produces more emboli after arterial anastomosis of an island flap.
To answer the question "Are more emboli produced after a small artery anastomosis has been performed poorly?", we used the isolated rat cremaster muscle. The number of emboli seen downstream from a small artery anastomosis were counted after using two anastomotic techniques. Direct observations using intravital microscopy of emboli passing through the principal arteriole of the cremaster revealed that surgical technique using a large needle (poor execution) caused a significantly higher number of emboli to be produced at the site of small artery anastomosis than was noted after a fine needle technique.
Gu
J M
JM
Department of Surgery (Plastic and Reconstructive Division), University of Louisville School of Medicine, Kentucky.
Acland
R D
RD
Anderson
G L
GL
Wyllie
F
F
Barker
J H
JH
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D008954:Models, Biological; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013524:Surgical Flaps / Q000379:methods*; D013536:Suture Techniques / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors