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During vascular anastomosis of experimental ischemic free flaps it is common to observe that stagnant blood in the vessel ends has clotted. A study was performed to investigate if flushing away the stagnant blood on division of the vessels would increase flap survival. Flushing did not influence flap survival. Clinically, clot is rarely seen, except in conditions of prolonged ischemia or damaged vessels. Current surgical practice does not involve flushing the vessel ends upon division of the vessels and this approach is affirmed by our results.

Original publication

DOI

10.1002/micr.1920151111

Type

Journal article

Journal

Microsurgery

Publication Date

1994

Volume

15

Pages

805 - 807

Keywords

Anastomosis, Surgical, Animals, Arteries, Graft Survival, Rabbits, Skin, Skin Transplantation, Surgical Flaps, Veins