Modified crush‐avulsion anastomosis model on the rat femoral vein

A crush‐avulsion anastomosis model was established on the rat femoral vein. Saline or heparin was used as a luminal topical agent and was allowed to contact the damaged endothelium for 10 min. Patency and coagulation parameters were investigated for 1 week. The heparin treated group had a patency rate of 93% at 1 hr vs. 13% for the saline treated group ( P <0.001). At 7 days, the heparin treated group had an 87% patency vs. 7% for the saline‐treated group ( P <0.001). Scanning electron micrography (SEM) provided evidence of the deposition of the components of early thrombosis in the crushed venous wall. In contrast, the SEM of the heparin treated group shows a paucity of any evidence of thrombus. These results indicate that the rat vein crush‐avulsion model is a reliable and reproducible thrombosis model with low patency. The methods used with the topical agent may improve the patency rate in crush avulsion injuries. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.