EVALUATION OF THE STRENGTH OF VASCULAR ANASTOMOTIC TECHNIQUES

The strength of various anastomotic techniques was examined in a canin e model utilizing a strain gauge to determine the force required to di srupt single/double/multiple sutures placed at 1, 2, and 3 mm depth of bite. Pull-out strength was found to be primarily a factor of the pla ne of preliminary arterial dissection, reflected as the amount of adve ntitia included in each bite; the depth of the suture was a lesser con tributory factor. Pull-out strengths of complete vascular anastomoses were no stronger than their constituent single stitches. An optimal va scular anastomotic technique is therefore advocated.