A MODIFIED METHOD OF CONTINUOUS VENOUS ANASTOMOSIS IN MICROSURGERY

The continuous suture technique for end-to-end vascular anastomosis is cautioned against because of the risk of vessel constriction. A modif ied method of continuous suture for end-to-end venous microanastomosis is presented in which vessel constriction does not occur. This techni que was compared with the conventional interrupted suture technique in the rat femoral vein, with each rat serving as its own control. Forty -eight Long-Evans rats were used. The mean time taken to complete the anastomosis was 9.8 minutes (range, 8-14 minutes) far the modified con tinuous technique and 17.7 minutes (range, 14-24 minutes) for the conv entional interrupted technique (p < 0.05, independent t-test). In addi tion, the veins were examined under the microscope for patency and the milk test was performed on each anastomosis 30 minutes postanastomosi s, and 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. Two groups of rats were sac rificed, one at 1 week and one at 1 month, and the two different anast omoses were compared using vessel morphometry in 40 rats and corrosion casts in 8 rats. All veins were patent postoperatively, as well as at 1 week and 1 month postoperatively. Vessel morphometry confirmed a si milar luminal surface area in all veins examined at 1 week and 1 month . A two-way analysis of variance of vessel morphometry indicated no si gnificant interaction between the methods used and the postoperative t ime (p = 0.60). The modified continuous technique is twice as quick as the conventional interrupted technique for end-to-end microvenous ana stomosis and does not lead to vessel constriction.