New capillary bed formation with a surgically constructed arteriovenous fistula.

This study on 24 rats has demonstrated that neovascularization of the skin through an arteriovenous fistula is possible. A vascular bed can be created by the use of long interpositional vein grafts. An arteriovenous fistula in the shape of a loop could not only provide vascularity to create a skin flap of unlimited size but could possibly vascularize a digital replantation with severely damaged vessels and provide enough additional vascularity to facilitate the take of bone grafts and tissue composites.