EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON THE DEVELOPMENTOF ARTERIAL AND VENOUS COLLATERALCIRCULATION AFFER REPLANTATIONOF SEVERED LIMBS

This study is to find out the time requiredfor the appearance of adequate arterial andvenous collaterai blood flow following replan-tation of severed limbs in dogs. Temporary oc-clusion of femoral artery up t0 2 months afteroperation in 10 dogs resulted in rapid drop ofskin temperature. Arteriography done 5 monthspostoperatively in 12 dogs revealed little or noformation of collateral vessels at the site of re-plantation. Ligation of the femoral vein couldbe performed safely as early as the 8th post-operative day. Venography 8 days t0 2 monthsafter operation in 10 dogs revealed rich colla-teral vessel formation at the site of reunion.