title: Evaluation of a poly(L-lactic acid) stent for sutureless vascular anastomosis.
abstract: We have developed a sutureless anastomosis device consisting of a biodegradable stent and stainless steel band for end-to-end anastomosis. The aim of this acute phase study was to evaluate the feasibility of a sutureless anastomotic procedure with a bioabsorbable stent during a 4-week period in a swine model. The porcine infrarenal aorta was replaced with an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene graft. A proximal anastomosis was completed using a sutureless anastomotic procedure employing a bioabsorbable stent made of poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) and a stainless steel plate. A distal anastomosis completed by manual suturing served as a control. At 4 weeks after surgery, angiography was performed. The animals were then killed, and the specimens were evaluated histologically. The sutureless anastomotic procedure required significantly less time than the suturing technique. Angiograms showed patency of the grafts, and no signs of either stenosis or leakage. Both pressure-proof and tensile tests confirmed the adequate mechanical strength of the anastomoses. Sutureless anastomosis with a PLLA stent appears to be feasible, at least within an observation period of 4 weeks. This simple procedure shortened the time of surgery and would contribute to reducing the risks of operation-related complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Advanced Surgical Science and Technology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Japan. y-nakano@mail.tains.tohoku.ac.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiyuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nakano
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Tetsuo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Inagaki
authors.forename: Yoshito
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ikada
authors.forename: Susumu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Satomi
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D023421:Models, Animal; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D013193:Stainless Steel; D015607:Stents; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013552:Swine; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D013193:Stainless Steel; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide)