Impact of Suturing Techniques on Microvascular Anastomosis Maturation.

BACKGROUND

Microvascular anastomosis using interrupted suture is a widely accepted standard technique. Continuous suture is less common due to the presumption that its firmness can negatively affect anastomosis maturation. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of continuous suture allows maturation of the microanastomosis site.

METHODS

A rat common carotid artery (CCA) end-to-end microanastomosis model was utilized, with 19 Long-Evans rats in the interrupted suture group and 13 in the continuous suture group. Immediate blood flow of the operated and contralateral intact CCAs was compared before clamping, at the completion of the anastomosis and after 14 days. Quantitative transit time flowmetry measurement and histologic examination were employed.

RESULTS

Initial blood flow in both intact CCAs was similar across all animals ( = 0.004). In the interrupted suture group, the median anastomosis blood flow was 88.9% of the contralateral CCA blood flow, with a median suture time of 46 minutes. After 2 weeks, blood flow increased to 96.1%. In the continuous suture group, the median anastomosis blood flow was 88.3% of the contralateral CCA blood flow, with a median suture time of 30 minutes. After 2 weeks, blood flow increased to 100.0%. The reduction in suture time achieved with continuous suture was 34.8% ( < 0.001). Histologic examination confirmed scar maturity.

CONCLUSIONS

The maturation rates of continuous and interrupted suture microanastomosis were comparable in our study, implying that concerns about the suture restricting maturation may be unwarranted. Additional finding is the potential for a reduction in microanastomosis time when using the continuous suture technique.