Objectives: The non-penetrating Vascular Clip System (VCS) was tested exper
imentally and compared with the conventional suture method on the venous sy
stem.
Materials and Methods: In five pigs, 30 transverse venotomies were carried
out in the jugular and renal veins, and vena cava. Fifteen venotomies were
reconstructed using autosuture clips and 15 using the standard needle and s
uture method. Eight weeks later, following phlebography, the specimens were
examined macro- and microscopically.
Results: For both methods, the veins remained patent; however, significant
stenosis of 8.9% (95% CI: 0.6-17.1) for the renal vein and 8.5% (95% CI: 1.
2-15.7) for the vena cava occurred when the suture technique was used. The
intima to media height ratio remained the same. The anastomosis time with t
he clips was significantly shorter (p<0.05),while the endothelium remained
intact without any hyperplasia or inflammatory changes, which are usual fin
dings of the suture technique.
Conclusion: Early and mid-term results show that the VCS clipped anastomoti
c technique seems to be effective and acceptable for venous reconstructions
.