Role of Interrupted Horizontal Micromattress suturing for size discrepancies in free flap vessel anastomosis.

AIM

The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the interrupted horizontal micro mattress suturing technique in anastomosing size-mismatched vessels during free flap surgeries.

MATERIAL & METHOD: The study included patients who underwent free flap surgery and encountered size disparities in vessels intraoperatively. The technique was applied to 24 patients with 28 mismatched blood vessels. Interrupted horizontal micro-mattress sutures were utilized to adjust the diameter mismatch between incongruent vessels. Each suture aimed to reduce the diameter of the larger vessel in comparison to the smaller vessel.

RESULTS

During free flap surgeries, the technique was successfully applied across various body regions, from head to toe. Out of the 28 vessels where anastomosis was performed using this technique, two patients experienced thrombosis. This technique enabled anastomosis of vessels with a size mismatched ratio up to 2:1.

CONCLUSION

The interrupted micro mattress suturing technique proves to be a straightforward, secure, and dependable for addressing vessel size discrepancy up to 2:1. An additional benefit of this technique is its ability to circumvent the need for end-to-side repair, enhancing its utility in eversion of margins of repaired blood vessels and practicality in free flap surgeries.