Laser welded vascular anastomosis

A comparative study was undertaken to investigate the application of a specially adapted microsurgical Neodymium Yag Laser system with a wavelength of 1,319 microns and a CO2 laser system for laser assisted microvascular end-to-end anastomosis (LAMA) of the rat femoral artery. Conventionally sutured anastomoses served as controls. Postoperative investigations included patency tests, light microscopy and tensile strength measurements. Both laser systems seem to be equally suitable for LAMA: The patency rates do not differ from those of sutured anastomoses and formation of microscopically small aneurysms occurred predominantly in control animals and only once in laser groups. The clamp time n…