Subscribe to RSS
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-830004
Irrigation Pressure and Vessel Injury During Microsurgery: A Qualitative Study
Publication History
Accepted: 1 March 2004
Publication Date:
06 July 2004 (online)

Irrigation solution is routinely used in microsurgery. While the anticoagulation solution may aid in anastomotic patency, the direct effect of pressure irrigation can have a detrimental effect on the vessel. An experimental study was performed to determine the effect of irrigation pressure on the vessel wall. Histological evaluation with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed on the arteries of New Zealand white rabbits irrigated with lactated Ringer's solution at pressures of 80 mmHg, 100 mmHg, and 500 mmHg. H&E staining and SEM microscopy demonstrated injury to the endothelial cells and internal elastic lamina at pressures of 100 mmHg or greater. Controlling microsurgical irrigation pressure to less than 100 mmHg may help to avoid vessel injury.
KEYWORDS
Irrigation pressure - vessel wall - endothelial damage
REFERENCES
- 1 Harashina T, Buncke H J. Study of washout solutions for microvascular replantation and transplantation. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1975; 56 542-548
- 2 O'Brien B M, MacLeod A M, Sykes P J, Donahoe S. Hallux-to-hand transfer. Hand Clin. 1975; 7 128-133
- 3 Lister G D, Kalisman M, Tsai T M. Reconstruction of the hand with free microvascular toe-to-hand tranfer: experience with 54 transfers. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1983; 71 372-386
- 4 Buncke H J. Discussion. Free toe transfer for thumb and finger reconstruction in 300 cases. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1992; 91 701
- 5 Chait L A, May Jr J W, O'Brien B M, Hurley J V. The effects of perfusion of various solutions on the no-reflow phenomenon in experimental free flaps. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1978; 61 421-430
- 6 Rosen H M, Slivjak M J, McBrearty F X. The role of perfusion washout in limb revascularization procedures. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1987; 80 595-605
- 7 Gould J S, Sully L, O'Brien B M, Das S K, Knight K R, Hurley J V. The effects of combined cooling and perfusion on experimental free-flap survival in rabbits. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1985; 76 104-109
- 8 McCord J M. Oxygen-derived radicals: a link between reperfusion injury and inflammation. Fed Proc. 1987; 46 2402-2406
- 9 Marzella L, Jesudass R R, Manson P N, Myers R A, Bulkley G B. Morphologic characterization of acute injury to vascular endothelium of skin after frostbite. Plastic Reconstr Surg. 1989; 81 67-76
- 10 Gu Y D, Li J F, Jiang J F, Zhong C S, Tang P Z. Scanning electron microscopic observations on the endothelial healing mechanism of vessels. J Reconstr Microsurg. 1989; 5 327-330
- 11 Lazarus H M, Hutto W. Electric burns and frostbite: patterns of vascular injury. J Trauma. 1982; 22 581-585
- 12 Reidy M A. A reassessment of endothelial injury and arterial lesion formation. Lab Invest. 1985; 53 513-520
- 13 Tada T, Reidy M A. Endothelial regeneration: IX. Arterial injury followed by rapid endothelial repair induces smooth-muscle-cell proliferation but not intimal thickening. Am J Pathol. 1987; 129 429-433
- 14 Buncke Jr H J, McLean D H, George P T, Creech B J, Chater N L, Commons G W. Thumb replacement: great toe transplantation by microvascular anastomosis. Br J Plast Surg. 1973; 26 194-201
- 15 Gu Y D, Wu M M, Li H R. Circulatory crisis in free toe-to-hand transfer and its management. I. Clinical experience. J Reconstr Microsurg. 1989; 5 111-114
- 16 Dongyue Y, Yudong G. Thumb reconstructoin utilizing second toe transplantation by microvascular anastomosis: a report of 78 cases. Chin Med J. 1979; 92 295-309
- 17 Sjostrom B, Weatherly-White R CA, Paton B C. Experimental studies in cold injury. I. The individual response to a standard cold environment. J Surg Res. 1964; 4 12-16
- 18 Harashina T, Fujino T, Watanabe S. The intimal healing of microvascular anastomoses. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1976; 58 608-613
- 19 Yan J G. Experimental study of vessels in the smooth muscles and changes in Ca (++)-ATPase following transplantation of severed limb in rats. [in Chinese]. Chin J Surg. 1990; 28 305-309
- 20 Spaet T H, Gaynor E. Vascular endothelial damage and thrombosis. Adv Cardiol. 1970; 4 47-66
William W DzwierzynskiM.D.
Dept. of Plastic and Reconstructuve Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin
9200 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53226