Laser-assisted vascular end to end anastomosis of elastin heterograft to carotid artery with an albumin stent: a preliminary in vivo study.
OBJECTIVE
Laser-assisted end to end vascular anastomosis of an elastin heterograft to native artery may prevent problems associated with currently available vascular synthetic grafts and conventional suture anastomosis.


METHODS
A total of 21 anastomoses in the carotid arteries of 7 domestic swine were performed with an 800 nm laser and an albumin stent plus solder. There were 5 artery to artery and 16 elastin heterograft to native artery anastomoses. Operative parameters, vascular patency, and histology of the anastomoses were evaluated.


RESULTS
Out of 21 anastomoses, 16 were patent for 3 hours. One artery to artery anastomosis was thrombosed and four elastin heterograft to artery anastomoses were excluded from the study due to heterograft burst. The average amount of applied energy was 212 J for artery to artery anastomosis and 273 J for elastin heterograft to native artery. Histology shows coagulative necrosis of the adventitia, hypereosinophilic contraction band in the media of native arteries and no changes in elastin heterografts.


CONCLUSIONS
Laser-assisted vascular anastomosis (LAVA) of elastin heterograft to medium size vessel using an albumin stent is feasible. Chronic studies are warranted to determine long-term patency and histology of the LAVA.
Xie
Hua
H
Oregon Medical Laser Center, Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, Portland, Oregon 97225, USA. hua.xie@providence.org
Bendre
Suhas C
SC
Burke
Allen P
AP
Gregory
Kenton W
KW
Furnary
Anthony P
AP
D000418:Albumins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D004549:Elastin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous
D000418:Albumins; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D004549:Elastin