Rapid arterial anastomosis with titanium clips.
BACKGROUND
The obvious advantages of rapid arterial anastomoses have prompted the continuing search for more rapid anastomotic techniques to complement the standard sutured anastomosis. Nonpenetrating, arcuate-legged titanium vascular closure staple (VCS) clips were initially developed for microvascular anastomoses. The purpose of this study was to compare VCS clips with sutured arterial end-to-end anastomosis in larger vessels.


METHODS
In 6 pigs, transacted iliac arteries were reanastomosed with VCS clips on one side and continuous 6-0 polypropylene suture on the other.


RESULTS
The reconstruction time was 8.4+/-5.2 minutes for clip closure and 12.0+/-6.6 minutes for suture closure (P = 0.033). All vessels were patent half an hour after completing the anastomoses with no signs of early thrombosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Arterial end-to-end anastomosis can be performed more rapidly with VCS clips than continuous sutures, and are potentially useful in situations where the clamp time of the vessel is critical.
Pikoulis
E
E
Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Burris
D
D
Rhee
P
P
Nishibe
T
T
Leppäniemi
A
A
Wherry
D
D
Rich
N
N
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000601:surgery; D011126:Polypropylenes; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D013537:Sutures; D013552:Swine; D014025:Titanium
D011126:Polypropylenes; D014025:Titanium