Jw. Fenner et al., DEHYDRATION - A MODEL FOR (LOW-TEMPERATURE) ARGON-LASER TISSUE BONDING, Physics in medicine and biology, 39(12), 1994, pp. 2147-2160
Despite considerable investigation, the mechanism of laser assisted va
scular anastomosis remains unknown. Indications suggest that bonding i
s the result of thermal action, particularly the thermal denaturation
of tissue proteins. However, our own work has led us to conclude that
dehydration is an important factor. Hence, we have proposed that laser
anastomosis is the result of dehydration at the apposed tissue faces,
induced by laser irradiation. This was investigated by comparing the
properties of bonds created by dehydration with those created by laser
. The bonds were created using parameters consistent with laser anasto
moses created in vivo. Results revealed that anastomoses created by de
hydration were equivalent to those created by laser, with little diffe
rence in strength, histology or response to rehydration. The only sign
ificant difference (p < 0.02) was mean bond strength created at temper
atures above the denaturation temperature of the tissue (548 g cm(-2)
by laser, 994 g cm(-2) by dehydration). Given the similarity of bonds
created by the two methods, we conclude that the same mechanism (i.e.
dehydration) is likely to be responsible for bonding in both cases and
therefore that argon laser bonding is mediated by dehydration.