DEVELOPMENT OF THROMBOSIS MODELS IN THE RABBIT

Objective: In an effort to decrease the probability of thrombosis at m icrovascular anastomotic sites, researchers have examined techniques f or decreasing the probability of thrombus formation at these sites. Id entification of an appropriate animal model that is relatively easy to perform, reliable, and reproducible was attempted in this study. The goal of this study is to provide other investigators with a comparison and critical appraisal of various thrombosis models allowing a more d irected selection of models for their own research. Design: A prospect ive, nonblinded animal study was designed that compared features of th rombosis models previously described in the literature with each other and with a new model (the ''tuck'' model), herein described. Main Out come Measures: Ease of dissection, time to thrombosis, and other techn ical details were recorded. Additionally, validation of clot histologi c features in the tuck model was performed. Results: The inversion gra ft models were found to be the most highly predictable and reliably th rombogenic, although technically quite difficult. The tuck model produ ces clot analogous to that produced clinically and is easy to perform, although a predictable number of vessels will not thrombose. Conclusi ons: The results of this study comparing various animal models of anas tomotic thrombosis suggests that the tuck model is the model of choice for most thrombus prevention studies. When predictability of thrombos is is a critical factor, the inversion graft model should be chosen.