Microsurgical arterial anastomosis in young and adult rats: an evolutive and comparative study.

Purpose: To evaluate the caliber of an arterial micro-anastomosis in the young growing animal using a continuous suture technique. Additionally, late morphological changes and blood flows distal to the anastomosis were evaluated.

Methods: Seventy-four Wistar rats were submitted to laparotomy to access the aorta for blood flow measurement.