Twenty-eight New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into experimental group (n = 20) and control group (n = 8). In the experimental group, the bilateral common carotid arteries were ligated, the blodd flow of right common carotid artery was reversed into the right cephalic internal jugular vein distal to the facial common vein, and the arterial and venous blood were obtained from the cerebral circulation pre and postoperatively for blood gas analysis. While in the control group, only the bilateral common carotid arteries were ligated. Both experimental group and control group were further divided equally into 4 subgroups for histological study at the 48th hour and on the 14th day after operation, cerebral angiography and ink injection on the 14th day of postoperation, and long survival observation, respectively. The results showed that all the animals survived. In the experimental group, the blood gas analysis revealed no statistical difference (P > 0.05) between pre- and postoperative. the cerebral circulation was rich and patent, and the cerebral cells were normal. In the control group, however, the cerebral blood flow was inadequate and the cerebral cells necrosed extensively. It is concluded that the adequate revascularization of ischemic brain can be created by the arteriovenous reversal.