End-to-side anastomoses: a model and a technique with clinical application.

Recently, the advantages of end-to-side anastomoses in reconstructive microvascular surgery have been emphasized. This article describes a practical laboratory model for practicing end-to-side anastomoses and a simplified technique for suturing the posterior wall in such anastomoses. The left common iliac artery of a rat is transected and an end-to-side anastomosis with the right common iliac artery is performed. A single clamp is manipulated to present the posterior wall for suturing.