Tissue transfer with a distal to proximal arteriovenous anastomosis for venous drainage: microcirculatory analysis on the rabbit ear model.

An experimental study was conducted to find out the survival mechanism of tissue transfers drained by distal to proximal arteriovenous fistulas in 22 rabbit ear chambers using a videorecording system. In the first experiment (n = 12) the rabbit earlobe was cut at the base to eliminate blood and lymphatic flow. The central artery was reanastomosed and an anterior marginal distal to proximal arteriovenous anastomosis was created. In the second experiment (n = 10) the anterior marginal artery was reanastomosed, and a central distal to proximal arteriovenous fistula was created. In the first experiment, constant blood flow was observed postoperatively in arterioles, venules, capillaries and arteriovenous shunts, while in the second experiment, no blood was observed in any vessels. In conclusion, capillary blood circulation was experimentally confirmed in a tissue transfer with distal to proximal arteriovenous anastomosis, and selection of arteries, one for reanastomosis and one for anastomosis to a vein for drainage, seems to be of critical importance for the success of this tissue transfer.