The effect of epigastric vessel ligation on the vascular territories of the pig rectus muscle.

In a pig model, unilateral ligation of the inferior epigastric vessels caused an initial decrease in normal vascularity, followed by an increase toward normal vascularity, in the inferior portion of the rectus muscle over 42 days. Ligation appeared to dilate the choke vessels between the superior and inferior arterial territories. The results indicate that by ligation of the inferior epigastric vessels, the vascular territory, which is normally tenuous, can undergo a transposition without vascular compromise.