Evaluation of the patency of microvenous anastomoses by phlebography after intramedullary injection of contrast material.
Some form of objective evaluation of the quality of a microvenous anastomosis is a necessity in microsurgical training. An indirect technique of visualising the venous system of the hind leg of the rat to assess anastomoses of the common femoral vein is described. We have used this technique of intramedullary injection on 25 occasions and the results are presented. The technique does not involve the sacrifice of the experimental animal and this is a real advantage in an experimental microvascular laboratory.
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