Long-term intermittent compression increases arteriographic collaterals in a rabbit model of femoral artery occlusion

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. (c) 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of European Society for Vascular Surgery.