title: Non-suture end-to-end anastomoses between polytetrafluoroethylene graft and vessels for blood access.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-suture end-to-end anastomoses between polytetrafluoroethylene grafts and blood vessels were achieved using absorbable cuff material in experimental and clinical studies. The cuff was made of a synthetic biodegradable material, a lactic-glycolic acid copolymer, similar in composition to conventional absorbable surgical sutures.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the experimental study, vascular anastomoses for prosthetic interposition of the infrarenal aorta in rabbits were created using the cuff method. Six months after surgery, the cuff anastomoses sites were examined angiographically and microscopically and found to be patent and smooth without neointimal hyperplasia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cuff layer had been completely absorbed. The clinical application used a similar technique and involved the creation of forearm bridge graft fistula in twelve patients for hemodialysis. In eight patients, Doppler fistula flow rate ranged from 167 ml/min to 392 ml/min. Ten of the twelve patients continued dialysis uneventfully. The one-year patency rate was 78% (7/9). The longest patency period was 920 days and the graft access continued to maintain sufficient blood flow for hemodialysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This absorbable cuff material is therefore well suited for the construction of prosthetic vascular end-to-end anastomoses.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery, Hiroshima Prefectural Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumimoto
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukuda
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Haruta
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dohi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsuchiya
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011817:Rabbits; D013537:Sutures; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene