Acellular dermal matrix grafts for prevention of microarterial thrombophlebitis.

OBJECTIVE To examine the role of acellular dermal matrix grafts for prevention of microarterial anastomotic thrombophlebitis. DESIGN Bilateral femoral artery microvascular anastomoses were created in the field of established wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in 12 rats. In each animal, 1 femoral microarterial anastomosis was wrapped with an acellular dermal matrix graft, and the contralateral femoral anastomosis was left unprotected. The incidence of femoral artery thrombosis was determined after 4 days by wound reexploration. SETTING David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE The patency of femoral artery anastomoses was determined after 4 days by wound reexploration. RESULTS The incidence of femoral artery thrombosis in vessels wrapped with acellular dermal matrix grafts was 17%. The incidence of femoral artery thrombosis in unprotected vessels was 100%. This difference was statistically significant (P<.05). CONCLUSION Acellular dermal matrix grafts seem to have a protective effect in the prevention of acute thrombophlebitis when arterial microvascular anastomoses are performed in infected surgical fields.