[Free transplantation of thick grafts of skin-adipose tissue with microsurgical blood vessel connections in the rat]

Abstract

Reliable anastomosis of the smallest vessels up to an external diameter of 0.5 mm is possible today through the introduction of the operating microscope and a special microsurgical technique for angiorrhaphy. We carried out a model experiment for free skin-flap transplantation using rats, whereby skin-fat flaps from the groin were transplanted on the thorax of the animals. The vascularization was re-established by end-to-side anastomosis of the epigastric artery and vein with the common carotid artery and the jugular vein. The rate of success for our experimental series of 12 free skin transplants was 83%.