APPLICATION OF THE 3M MICROVASCULAR ANASTOMOTIC DEVICE IN NONVASCULARTUBULAR STRUCTURES

In this study, the 3M microvascularanastomotic system was utilized for the first time to perform an end-to-end anastomosis in a non-vascular tubular structure, which was compared to the conventional microvascul ar suture method. The bicornuate rat uterus was the preferred structur e because of its anatomic similarity to the human fallopian tube. Thir ty Sprague-Dawley rats underwent 3M and conventional end-to-end anasto moses of their bicornuate uteri. At different intervals, the animals w ere explored and biopsies were taken for examination under light micro scopy. Overall patency rate with the 3M technique was 68 percent vs. 9 6 percent with the conventional technique. Complication rates were 40 percent with the 3M device and 12 percent with the conventional method . This study concludes that, if this method is to be used on non-vascu lar tubular structures, further modifications to the system and additi onal research are mandatory, in order to recommend this technique for clinical application.