ABSTRACT
Diametric growth at the anastomotic site, following microvascular anastomoses in pediatric
patients, remains a problem, when nonabsorbable suture material is used. This study
investigated the long-term effects of femoral artery anastomoses with nonabsorbable
sutures in 20 growing rats with a mean weight of 101 g. The right femoral artery was
anastomosed with 10-0 polypropylene monofilament suture and the left with identical
nylon suture, using 5 to 6 interrupted sutures for each end-to-end anastomosis. At
a 6-month harvest, the mean body weight had increased by 729 percent and the diameter
of the femoral artery by 240 percent. The patency rate at the anastomotic sites was
97.5 percent and the complication rate was 10 percent, including one occlusion and
three aneurysm formations at the sites. Angiography, diameter measurement, and histology
demonstrated no stenosis or thrombus formation in all animals. Histology also showed
normal vessel lumen size and well-organized re-endothelialization, without intimal
hyperplasia at the anastomosis sites. With an interrupted suture technique, nonabsorbable
sutures do not compromise growth at the anastomosis site or long-term patency of the
anastomosed vessels. This study indicates that interrupted nonabsorbable suture materials
are able to create excellent long-term results in microvascular anastomoses in rapidly
growing hosts.
