Long-term Intermittent Compression Increases Arteriographic Collaterals in a Rabbit Model of Femoral Artery Occlusion

• Published in: European journal of vascular and endovascular surgery Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 340 - 346
• Main Authors: van Bemmelen, P.S, Choudry, R.G, Salvatore, M.D, Goldenberg, M, Goldman, B.I, Blebea, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2007
• Subjects: Animal models of human disease; Animals; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - physiopathology; Arteriogenesis; Arteriography; Barium Sulfate - administration & dosage; Collateral Circulation; Collaterals; Contrast Media - administration & dosage; Disease Models, Animal; Femoral Artery - diagnostic imaging; Femoral Artery - physiopathology; Femoral Artery - surgery; Intermittent Compression; Intermittent Pneumatic Compression Devices; Ligation; Muscle, Skeletal - blood supply; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Peripheral vascular disease; Pressure; Rabbit-model; Rabbits; Radiography; Remodeling; Reproducibility of Results; Surgery; Time Factors; Arteriogenesis; Animal models of human disease; Intermittent Compression; Peripheral vascular disease; Arteriography; Rabbit-model; Remodeling; Collaterals
• ISSN: 1078-5884; 1532-2165
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ejvs.2007.04.013

Objectives To assess the effects of intermittent limb compression on arterial collateral formation in a rabbit-model. Design Animal study. Material and methods New Zealand rabbits ( n = 11), aged 2-years, weight of at least 4.0 kg, underwent bilateral superficial femoral artery ligation. In ten of these, the experimental leg underwent 60 minutes of daily intermittent compression for a ten week period with 3 sec/90 mmHg pressure inflation and a cycle of 3 times per minute. The contra-lateral limbs were not treated. At the end of the ten-week period, high-resolution angiograms were obtained by barium infusion into the aorta. The angiograms were analyzed in a blinded manner and the number of collateral arteries larger than 100 microns, was counted. Following perfusion-fixation, histological specimens of transverse sections of the compressed semi-membranous muscle were examined. Results The compressed limbs demonstrated a significantly (8.1 ± .87 vs 6.0 ± .97; p < 0.005) greater number of collateral vessels, ranging in size from 100–700 microns, as compared to the control sides. The mean size of collaterals in the compressed limbs was not significantly different (0.33 ± 0.17 vs 0.31 ± 0.16). Microscopic examination of the collaterals confirmed remodeling by a typical neo-intima consisting of 6–7 cell-layers. Conclusions Intermittent limb compression increases the number of angiographical collateral arteries.