J Hand Microsurg 2013; 05(01): 14-17
DOI: 10.1007/s12593-013-0089-z
Original Article
Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd.

Microvascular Anastomosis of Submillimeter Vessels—A Training Model in Rats

Hin-Lun Liu

Subject Editor:
Further Information

Publication History

19 August 2012

11 January 2013

Publication Date:
05 September 2016 (online)

Zoom Image

Abstract

The advent of supermicrosurgery, which allows the anastomosis and dissection of small-caliber vessels ranging from 0.5 to 0.8 mm in diameter, has led to the development of new reconstructive operations. Lymphaticovenous anastomosis, fingertip replantation and perforator flap surgery all require the supermicrosurgical techniques. In this paper, a rat model is described for the training of anastomosis of submillimeter vessels. Spraque-Dawley rats with the weight of 300 to 500 g were used as the training models. The gender, weight and size of the femoral vessels of 20 rats were recorded. The segment of the femoral vessel which was lying on the ventral muscle group of the hind limb and distal to the origin of the superficial inferior epigastric vessels was used for the practice of microvascular anastomosis. In this study, there were 13 male and 7 female rats. The mean weight of the 20 rats was 395.6 g. The mean diameters of the femoral artery and femoral vein were 0.54 mm and 0.56 mm respectively. The consistent size and anatomy of the femoral vessel make it a suitable training model for microvascular anastomosis of submillimeter vessels.