The ultimate goal in microvascular surgery is to achieve improved pate
ncy rates,while reducing complications of systemic antithrombotic agen
ts. Using a described model of microarterial thrombosis, the antithrom
botic effects of oral aspirin (ASA) were assessed in rats. ASA-treated
animals (30 mg/kg orally) exhibited significantly prolonged mean blee
ding times 1 h and 24 h after dosing when compared to controls (p < 0.
01). Platelet aggregation profiles also displayed an inhibition of pla
telet aggregation in the ASA group relative to controls. In the thromb
osis model, however, patency rates were significantly improved at 20 m
in, but all vessels were thrombosed at 24 h.