The effect of tension on patency of rat femoral artery anastomoses.
OBJECTIVE
To determine experimentally the role of tension in the failure of microarterial anastomoses.


METHODS
Sixteen microarterial anastomoses were performed in femoral arteries from adult Sprague-Dawley male rats after resecting 0, 1, 2, or 3 mm. The percentage of vessel excised was calculated. The vessel was then examined in approximately 1 week for patency. Next, 5 femoral arteries were excised and length-tension curves generated.


RESULTS
All vessels were patent in which less than 20% of the length was resected. Clinically, only vessels under extreme tension failed. Length-tension curves suggested 2 zones of vessel extensibility with a breakpoint between them. Extension of the vessel beyond this breakpoint required extreme tension.


CONCLUSIONS
Moderate tension at a microarterial anastomosis does not lead to anastomotic failure. Failure occurs after the elastic reserve of the vessel is exceeded.
Decherd
Michael E
ME
University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Department of Otolaryngology, 301 University Blvd, Route 0521, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
Calhoun
Karen H
KH
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D004548:Elasticity; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000502:physiology; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods