THE EFFECT OF DEXTRAN-40 ON PATENCY FOLLOWING SEVERE TRAUMA IN SMALL ARTERIES AND VEINS

Arteriotomy/intimectomy and venotomy/intimectomy were performed in the rabbit ear. Low molecular-weight dextran (dextran 40) was infused 2 h before reperfusion and on postoperative days 1, 3 and 5 using a stand ard clinical protocol. Bleeding-times at reperfusion were recorded and patencies determined at intervals up to 2 weeks. Rabbits given single preoperative bolus doses of saline were used as controls. Dextran sig nificantly prolonged bleeding-times in arteries and significantly impr oved early patency in both types of vessel, but the enhancements disap pear by one week. Dextran 40 infusion thus has little effect on long-t erm patency.