Lyophilized heterologous collagen and vascular repair in vascular surgery: Histological evaluation

The purpose of this study is to assess whether it is possible to improve the healing process after vascular microsurgery by using a cuff of lyophilized heterologous collagen. This should act as a biological support to improve healing in arterial microanastomoses. This study, on experimental animals, involved the preparation of aortic termino-terminal anastomoses. Histological studies were made 7, 14, 28 and 60 days postoperatively. Preliminary results seem to exclude that collagen significantly helps vascular repair in vascular microsurgery.