Per‐operative topical administration of ZK 36 374 (iloprost) acts favorably on patency of small artery anastomoses in rats

Abstract

Aspirin (group I, 20 mg/kg, 0.5 hour preoperatively, ip, xylocaine (group II, topical administation of 1 ml of a 2% solution), and ZK 36 374 (IIoprost) either pre‐ or per‐ or postoperatively (group III, 10 μg/kg 0.5 hour peroperatively iv; group IV, topical administration of 1 ml of a solution containing 25 μg/ml peroperatively; and group V, 10 μg/kg 0.5 hour postoperatively iv) were given to groups of BN female rats in order to improve the patency rate of small artery (<0.5 mm) anastomoses. The rats in group VI received saline peroperatively by topical application, this group served as a control. The patency was established by means of arteriography and macroscopical examination. Neither aspirin nor xylocaine improved the number of successful anastomoses. However, IIoprost administered topically, while performing the anastomosis, substantially improved the patency rate when compared with group VI, the control group. In the control group only five out of 21 animals showed patent anastomoses, whereas in group IV (IIoprost, topical administration) seven out of ten operations were successful. The results suggest that IIoprost applied locally could be helpful in clinical microsurgery for elective operations as well as in replantation surgery.