Microvascular anastomosis using carbon dioxide (CO2) laser: evaluation by SEM after corrosion cast.

In order to compare the carbon dioxide laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis (CO2 LAMA) with conventional microvascular sutured anastomosis (CMSA), 40 microarterial anastomoses were performed in Wistar albino rats. At different time intervals from zero to four weeks after the procedure, the anastomoses were examined under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) after resin corrosion cast (Mercox). CO2 LAMA was easier and less time-consuming than CMSA, with the same patency rate. Healing of the lumen surface was similar in both procedures, suggesting that CO2 LAMA can be reliably used in microvascular anastomosis.