title: Rapid arterial anastomosis with titanium clips.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pikoulis
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burris
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rhee
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishibe
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leppäniemi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wherry
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rich
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D014025:Titanium