A microvascular anastomotic device: part I. A hemodynamic evaluation in rabbit femoral arteries and veins.
This study quantitatively assesses the hemodynamic consequences of inserting a 1.5-mm polyethylene anastomotic device in both small arteries and veins. The device was placed in 20 rabbit femoral arteries and 20 femoral veins. Using 20-MHz pulsed ultrasonic Doppler velocimetry techniques, blood flow was measured in 5 immediate postoperative intervals and at the 24-hour and 3-week postoperative intervals. In arteries, volumetric flow (Q) was not statistically different in any postoperative interval; maximum spatial velocity (Vmax) was significantly increased in the immediate postoperative intervals but was not different at 24 hours or 3 weeks. In veins, significant decreases in Q and increases in Vmax occurred in the immediate postoperative intervals, but differences were not noted at the 24-hour or 3-week intervals. The results of this study indicate that the hemodynamic consequences of anastomosing small vessels with a polyethylene device are minimal and that this mechanical technique is an effective method for experimental microvascular repairs.
Blair
W F
WF
Division of Hand and Microsurgery, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242.
Steyers
C M
CM
Brown
T D
TD
Gable
R H
RH
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014654:Vascular Patency