Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To explore the construct of common carotid artery-external jugular vein arteriovenous fistulas in rabbit model using the modified no-touch technique. Methods Ten male New Zealand rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group and sham operation group. Common carotid artery-external jugular vein arteriovenous fistula was created in experimental group by the modified no-touch technique, the perivenous vascular tissue was not stripped off in the operation. The vessels were not anastomosed in sham operation group. After the operation for 14 days, color Doppler ultrasonography was used to evaluate
the inner diameter change of the arteriovenous fistula and the spectrum of blood flow in it, blood gas was analyzed in the external jugular vein, and the intimal thickness was observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining of the vessel slides. Results The common carotid artery-external jugular vein arteriovenous fistula was successfully constructed in all rabbits in experiment group. After the operation for 14 days, color Doppler ultrasonography found that the inner diameter of external jugular vein was 7.162±2.332 mm in experimental group and was 2.992±0.277 mm in sham operation group (t=3.582, P=0.016), the peak systolic velocity (PSV) in the external jugular vein was 81.480±38.746 cm/s in experimental group and was 10.334±1.802 cm/s in sham operation group (t=3.032, P=0.015), and the bidirectional blood-flow spectrum suggesting spiral laminar flow was observed in the common carotid artery and external jugular vein in experimental group. H-E staining of the vessels showed that the internal elastic membrane of the external jugular vein was destroyed in experimental group, and the intimal thickness was 26.360±3.769 μm in experimental group and was 10.239±2.960 μm in sham operation group (t=−9.516, P<0.001). The partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) in the external jugular vein was 78.800 ± 5.890 mmHg in experimental group, and was 49.000 ± 4.183 mmHg in sham group (t=9.223,
P=0.006). Conclusion The common carotid artery- external jugular vein arteriovenous fistula can be constructed by the modified no-touch technique with a high success rate and an excellent repeatability in rabbit model. This study provides an ideal animal model for the application of modified no-touch technique in arteriovenous fistula surgery.

Key words: Rabbit, Arteriovenous fistula, Modified no-touch technique, Animal model