Objectives: The study design aimed to examine the
differences in the clinical and pathologic features after
vascular anastomoses of a rat femoral artery using four
different suture techniques.
Methods: Sixty Sprage-Dawely rats were divided
randomly into four groups. Fifteen bisected arteries (one
from each animal) in groups I, II, III, and IV were sutured
with the simple interrupted suture, continuous suture,
sleeve suture, and cuff suture, respectively.
Results: The anastomosis times in groups I, II, III and
IV were 28.67, 14.67, 15.47, and 15.93 minutes, respectively.
Immediate bleeding that stopped without intervention
(grade I) was observed in 67%, 73%, and 60% of the
anastomosed vessels in groups II, III, and IV, respectively,
whereas 60% of the vessels in group I showed light bleeding
that was inhibited by gentile pressure (grade II). All vessels
examined appeared to be patent at 5 and 15 minutes after
the anastomosis. On the seventh day postoperatively, the
vessels of group I showed the highest patency rate (93%)
compared with groups II (67%), III (73%), and IV (87%).
Moreover, there were more pronounced pathologic
changes in group I than in the other groups. These changes
included endothelial loss, endothelial proliferation, degeneration,
and necrosis of the tunica media. Suture materials surrounded
by an inflammatory reaction were also observed.
Conclusions: The simple interrupted suture is preferable
for vascular anastomosis due to its highest patency
rate. The other techniques investigated can be good alternatives
because of their short anastomotic time and moderate
pathological changes.