Experimental Study On Feasibility of Sutureless Anastomosis by a New Biodegradable Shape Memory Vascular Anastomosis Device

Background: Suture anastomosis of vascular is a complex, cumbersome and time-consuming procedure. Moreover, surgical dexterity is a determinant factor for anastomosis outcome. As a result of vascular wall damage and intimal hyperplasia stimulated by stitches, a long term patency rate of small-medium vessels is unsatisfactory. On the other hand, although non-suture anastomosis technique provides a faster and less traumatic anastomosis, its material-related complications have limited widespread use. In view of the limitations with existing methods, we have designed an improved device called sutureless and biodegradable shape memory vascular anastomosis system, which is made of a self-developed medical material (state invention patent NO. 200610023175). Objective: Find an easy-handled procedure of anastomosis with mini-injury,and good patency, sutureless end-to-end anastomosis. Methods: Establish vascular anastomosis model in cut ends of rabbit jugular vein, using sutureless and biodegradable shape memory vascular anastomosis system. The sutureless anastomotic site was then subjected to a loading bursting pressure for testing the anastomotic feasibility. Results: The sutureless anastomosis of small-medium vessels can be accomplished with the sutureless and biodegradable shape memory vascular anastomosis system, and the average bursting pressure of the anastomotic site was 522.5mmHg performed with MPA-2000 bio-signal detector system. Conclusion: The sutureless and biodegradable shape memory vascular anastomosis technique is of great feasibility according to our initial experiment. Its advantages lie in the avoidance of transmural injury, and elimination of proliferative reaction induced by fremde stoffe such as suture line. By virtue of the ability to naturally degrade in tissue, sutureless and biodegradable shape memory vascular anastomosis system could avoid influences on the healing of vessels. It provides an effective as well as simple way for vascular anastomosis of small-medium vessels.