Scanning electron microscopy of microarterial anastomoses with a diode laser: comparison with conventional manual suture.

A diode-laser (830 nm)-assisted carotid artery end-to-end microanastomosis (LAMA) and a contralateral manual suture anastomosis (CMA) were performed in 70 Wistar rats. The vessel sealing was performed on the left carotid by laser pulses (average 3) of 500 mW power and 4.5 sec exposure time, the beam being focused on a spot of 300 microns diameter (700 W/cm2). The CMA was achieved on the right carotid by six 10-0 stitches. From day 0 to day 210, 40 specimens underwent scanning electron microscopy. The laser impact produced a wall injury of 100 microns in width, with an immediate sealing effect due to protein denaturation and collagen fusion of media and adventitia. The anastomosis became re-endothelialized by day 3, while the longitudinal arrangement of the endothelial cells was restored from day 10 on. In the long term, a thick collagenous meshwork of collagen and elastic fibers maintained the strength of the media, while normal endothelium covered the anastomosis. Inversely, after CMA vessel repair was delayed, and the anastomotic line was more irregular and underlined by medial fibrotic scar. In both anastomoses, the patency rate was 93 percent, with nonlethal complications. The advantages of LAMA vs. CMA were: shorter operating time (13 min/22 min), reduced intraoperative trauma, better healing of endothelium, and a miniaturization of the laser source well adapted to microsurgery.