Long-term result of arterial grafts interposed for arterial defects using the telescoping anastomotic technique: Histological and angiographic study

The arterial grafting model for arterial defects provides an ideal environm ent for the microvascular telescoping anastomosis because tension of the re paired vessel is maintained low and deformities of the inserted vessel end is minimal due to the thick arterial wall. The left femoral artery was graf ted in 46 rats into the defect created in the right femoral artery using th e telescoping anastomotic technique at both the proximal and distal anastom oses. The grafts were seen histologically and angiographically 3 to 4 month s postoperatively in order to fairly evaluate the telescoping anastomosis i n terms of long-term patency, stenosis, and changes in the outer and inner walls at the anastomosis. All arterial grafts were patent 3 to 4 months pos toperatively and there were no aneurysms at the anastomoses. Enlargement of the graft diameter was minimal. The rate of stenosis at the anastomosis wa s smaller than that I-day postoperatively. Even though the thick arterial w all was initially inserted and the intimal hyperplasia was still present at the anastomosis 3 to 4 months postoperatively, the long-term stenosis was relatively mild due to the atrophy in the overlapped walls, (C) 1999 Wiiey- Liss, Inc.