Differential endothelial injury caused by vascular clamps and vessel loops. I. Normal vessels.

Silicone rubber looped tourniquets were compared with standard crossmembered metallic peripheral vascular occlusive clamps in a canine aorto-iliac vessel model to compare the degree and severity of endothelial injury as demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. The moderate-to-severe injury incurred by the standard clamps was not seen whatsoever with the looped tourniquets. Selective and preferential use of silastic rubber vessel tourniquet loops for vascular occlusion and control is thus advocated.