An Experimental Model of Peripheral Ischemia: A Procedure to Generate Peripheral Ischemia via Femoral Artery Ligation in a Rabbit

In vertebrates, the femoral artery is the major vessel supplying blood to the lower limbs. This artery is an extension of the external iliac artery and branches into six smaller arteries, including the superior epigastric and popliteal arteries.

For surgical ligation of the femoral artery, prepare an anesthetized rabbit in the supine position. Make a lateral incision in the thigh region and retract the skin to expose the underlying neurovascular cluster that contains the femoral artery surrounded by the femoral vein and the femoral nerve enclosed inside the femoral sheath. This cluster lies inside the femoral triangle – a wedge-shaped anatomical area – bound by the inguinal ligament inferiorly, the sartorius muscle laterally, and the abductor muscle medially.

Now, dissect the muscles and connective tissue to release the femoral artery. Ligate the artery at a site distal to the superior epigastric artery and proximal to the popliteal artery and carefully excise it. Then, suture the incision and allow the animal to stabilize.

Eventually, the ligation restricts the blood supply to the leg, inducing, a state of starvation due to the obstructed nutrient and oxygen supply, called peripheral ischemia. Thereafter, the animal model can be used for further experiments.