title: Effect of short-term high dose of steroids on the healing of microvascular anastomoses in a rabbit model: pilot study.
abstract: Short-term high doses of steroids have been used in head and neck surgery to reduce swelling in free tissue transfers. This study was set up to assess the effect of this treatment on the healing of microvascular anastomoses in a rabbit model. Anastomoses were made in the common carotid artery and anterior facial vein in 40 animals, half of which were given high doses of methylprednisolone (2.5 mg/kg/day) intravenously for 48 h peri-operatively. The patency of the vessels was assessed and they were harvested for histological examination at 1, 3, 7, 14, and 90 days postoperatively. Steroids tended to reduce the swelling in the vessel walls during the early stages of healing (24 h and 3 days), and also to reduce the inflammatory cell count in the lumen of the vessels at 3 days. It seems likely from these initial observations that steroids are more likely to improve than jeopardize the healing of microvascular anastomoses.
authors.affiliation: Maxillofacial Unit, Walton Hospital, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lowe
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Browne
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000601:surgery; D004487:Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D005145:Face / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008866:Microsurgery; D009333:Neck / Q000098:blood supply; D018919:Neovascularization, Physiologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D018375:Neutrophil Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011817:Rabbits; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects*; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D008775:Methylprednisolone