Now, microvascular anastomosis is basic technique for plastic surgeons, and the technique has reached the stage of perfection. Replantation or transplantation of tissues by microsurgical technique has been fairly common for plastic surgeons. The histologic findings in the endothelium of major vessel have been studied by the use of the scanning electron microscope since the late of 1960’s, but the studies of its use in microvascular surgery have been reported since 1976.
We studied the healing process of endothelial surface of anastomotic site by the use of the scanning electron microscope after microvascular anastomosis of femoral arteries and superficial inferior epigastric vessels in 18 rats. The result was studied at 9 different periods after operation ranging from 1 hour to 4 weeks.
At the early stage of microvascular anastomosis, the anastomotic site was covered by many platelets, red blood cells, fibrin, and then macrophages. At 1 st week, endothelial cells started to cover the anastomotic site, and at 2nd week, the anastomotic site was completely covered by normal endothelial cells which directed parallel to longitudinal axis of vessels, but the insertion sites of thread were still covered with many platelets and red blood cells. At 3rd week, the insertion sites of thread started to be covered by normal endothelial cells, and complete endothelialization over the threads seemed to take about 4 weeks.
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