The Effects Of Erythropoietin On Venous Microanastomosis

Although microsurgery has rapid advanced, problems at the site of venous microanastomosis still continue. Thrombosis of the venous microanastomosis is the major reason for free tissue transfer and replantation complications. Erythropoietin is a principal hematopoietic regulator responsible for the proliferation and diferentiation of erythroid progenitor cells and endothelial cells. Aim of this study is to observe the complications of microvenous anastomosis line and to investigate the protective effects of erythropoietin. Seventy eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups (Control and Erythropoietin), and the groups were subdivided into three groups (3rd, 5th and 7th days). Rat dorsal penil vein was the study model. One-hundred-fifty IU/kg Erythropoietin was administrated via subcutaneously instantly venous anastomosis and every 48 hours to all Erythropoietin groups. Penil vein anastomosis line samples and blood samples were taken for assesment at 3rd, 5th and 7th days, after venous anastomosis. Morphometric analysis of each venous segment was done with a Clemex analysis program by the same examiner. Neointimal and medial areas were measured in each section and the neointima/media ratio was calculated. Haematocrit values were measured in all rats for 3rd, 5th and 7th days. The ratio of intima to medial areas were significantly less in Erythropoietin groups for 3rd and 5th days compared to control groups for the same days. There were no significant difference for the ratio of intima to medial areas between the contol and erythropoietin groups for 7th day. There were no significant difference for haematocrit levels between the the control and erythropoietin groups at 3rd, 5th and 7th days. Our study has shown that erythropoietin administration markedly reduced intimal formation and risk of thrombosis with accelerated endothelial regeneration after microvascular anastomosis in rat dorsal penil vein.