AbstractsMedical & Health Science

Includes abstract. Also available online. Use of perforators as recipient vessels in microvascular reconstruction has led to arterial diameter discrepancy becoming an increasingly common finding. Experimental and clinical evidence confirms that patency rates decrease with increasing diameter mismatch, but no good evidence is available to direct the choice of end-to-end microanastomotic technique where a small-to-large discrepancy exists. A programme of research has been conducted comparing two techniques of endto-end arterial microanastomoses, where a small-to-large diameter discrepancy exists of between 1:1.5 and 1:2.5. These techniques are; 45º oblique section of the smaller vessel, and; invaginating the smaller vessel inside the larger.