End-on-side microvascular anastomosis: an experimental study.

Abstract

A new method, the end-on-side microanastomotic technique, is presented and also compared with the conventional end-to-side technique. The technique can be summarized as follows: The proximal end of the donor vessel is incised bilaterally at midlateral points. Thus it is separated into inferior and superior segments. These segments are placed to overlap the posterior and anterior walls of the recipient artery by using two vertical sutures. Two additional horizontal sutures are placed between the apexes of the midlateral incisions and the apexes of the arteriotomy on the recipient artery. Eventually the microanastomosis is totally completed with four sutures lying at the intramural position in the recipient artery. Twenty rabbits were equally divided into two groups. The femoral and the profunda femoris arteries were used bilaterally to investigate applicability of the end-on-side technique in the first 10 rabbits. Eighteen end-on-side anastomoses were observed to be patent in the first stage. Subsequently the end-on-side technique was compared with the conventional end-to-side technique in the other 10 rabbits. All anastomoses, both end on side and end to side, were patient. Four end-on-side microanastomoses were histologically evaluated. It was proved that the end-on-side technique is a feasible and experimentally reliable method.