title: Patency, flow, and endothelialization of the sutureless Excimer Laser Assisted Non-occlusive Anastomosis (ELANA) technique in a pig model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to assess flow, patency, and endothelialization of bypasses created with the sutureless Excimer Laser Assisted Non-occlusive Anastomosis (SELANA) technique in a pig model.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 38 pigs, a bypass was made on the left common carotid artery (CCA), using the right CCA as a graft, with 2 SELANAs. Bypass flow was measured using single-vessel flowmetry. The pigs were randomly assigned to 1 of 12 survival groups (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 10 days; 2 and 3 weeks; and 3 and 6 months). One extra animal underwent the procedure and then was killed after 1 hour of bypass patency to serve as a control. Angiography was performed just before the animals were killed, to assess bypass patency. Scanning electron microscopy and histological studies were used to evaluate the anastomoses after planned death.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean SELANA bypass flow was not significantly different from the mean flow in the earlier ELANA (Excimer Laser Assisted Non-occlusive Anastomosis) pig study at opening and follow-up. Overall SELANA bypass patency (87%) was not significantly different from the ELANA patency of 86% in the earlier study. Complete SELANA endothelialization was observed after 2-3 weeks, compared with 2 weeks in the earlier ELANA study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The SELANA technique is not inferior to the current ELANA technique regarding flow, patency, and endothelialization. A pilot study in patients is a logical next step.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, The Netherlands. T.P.C.vandoormaal@umcutrecht.nl
authors.forename: Tristan P C
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: van Doormaal
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van der Zwan
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Redegeld
authors.forename: Bon H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Verweij
authors.forename: Cornelis A F
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tulleken
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Regli
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D054018:Lasers, Excimer; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D023421:Models, Animal; D034421:Sus scrofa; D058017:Vascular Grafting / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology*