ABSTRACT
The effect of delayed microsurgical arterial anastomosis on the patency rate in the
rat femoral artery was evaluated. Sixteen Sprague-Dawley rats underwent ligation and
repair of the right femoral arteries and repair of the left artery as a control. The
rats were divided into four groups, and their right arteries were ligated for 24,
48, 72, or 96 hr. Patency was evaluated by the standard stripping test and flow after
transection of the vessel. At 5 days after the arterial anastomosis, four of 16 arteries
remained patent, two of which were in the 24-hr group. Histologic analysis revealed
progressive damage to the arterial intima and media, as the time to repair was delayed.
Delayed microsurgical arterial repairs of greater than 24 hr showed a poor patency
rate, due to irreversible changes that occurred in the arterial intima and media.
