Use of a novel penetrating, sutureless anastomotic device in arterial microvascular anastomoses.
The advent of microsurgery and microvascular anastomosis has helped to alter the treatment of many traumatic defects as well as revolutionize the reconstructive options after extirpative surgery. These procedures, however, continue to be technically demanding and intensive. In addition, increased ischemia and operative times are known to raise complications in microsurgery, particularly in older patients. The nitinol U-clip (Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, MN) is a new penetrating clip applied in an interrupted fashion that eliminates knot tying and decreases operative time. This technology holds the potential for rapid, reproducible sutureless microvascular anastomoses. In addition, the surgical technique is very similar to conventional suture microanastomosis, lending itself to comparatively decreased learning curves and suitability for training programs. We present three consecutive cases of successful microsurgical anastomoses using this technology.
Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Richard C
RC
Baynosa
Ross
R
Stutman
Raman C
RC
Mahabir
William A
WA
Zamboni
Kayvan T
KT
Khiabani
D000497:Alloys; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D013525:Surgical Instruments; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol