title: A Novel Lymphaticovenular Anastomosis Rat Model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphaticovenular anastomosis (LVA) has become an important procedure for the surgical treatment of lymphedema. In the past, the anatomy of the lymphatic system of animal models has been reported. However, to our knowledge, there have been few reports of animal models of LVA including training model. In this study, we report on a relatively simple and ideal animal LVA model based on peritoneal lymph ducts and veins.
  
  
  METHODS
  For 10 rats, diameters of lumbar lymphatic ducts and iliolumbar veins in the peritoneal cavity on both sides were measured, and LVA was performed. In addition, we measured the diameters of 28 lymphatic ducts and veins in 8 patients who had previously undergone LVA and compared the results with those obtained in this rat model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean diameter of the lymphatic ducts was 0.61 mm, and the iliolumbar veins were 0.81 mm. On the other hand, the mean diameters of the 28 lymphatic ducts and veins of the 8 patients in whom we performed LVA were 0.58 and 0.76 mm, respectively. The differences in the diameters of the lymph vessels and veins between the rats and patients were not statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report on an LVA model involving the use of the lumbar lymphatic duct and iliolumbar veins of rats. The diameter, nature, and placement of the anastomosis using this model are very similar to that noted during real human surgery. We believe that our rat model will be useful as a practical training model for LVA and in studies on postoperative changes in LVA.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, University of Okayama, Okayama, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoshi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onoda
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kimata
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D042601:Lymphatic Vessels / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008209:Lymphedema / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000379:methods*; D023421:Models, Animal; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014654:Vascular Patency