Experimental study of small arterial anastomosis with gelatin-resorcin-formaldehyde glue and collagen sheet

In cardiovascular surgery, the manual continuous suture has often been used for microvascular anastomosis, but the luminal irregularity often causes thrombotic stenosis in the anastomosis sites. The purpose of this study was to examine the feasibility of the combined use of gelatin-resorcin-formaldehyde (GRF) glue and a collagen sheet for the anastomosis of small arteries 3 to 4 mm in diameter in experimental animals. End-to-end anastomoses of the carotid and femoral arteries of mongrel dogs were carried out with the combined use of GRF glue and collagen sheet. The physical strength of the anastomosis, the histopathologic condition of the vassels, and the absorptivity and the inflammatory response of the glue were evaluated. The physical strength of the anastomosis sites was good and their flexibility optimal, the smooth luminal surface appeared excellent for preventing thrombotic stenosis in all follow-up periods, and the glue was absorbed almost completely within 12 weeks postoperatively. The combined use of GRF glue and collagen sheet would be feasible for the anastomosis of small arteries 3 to 4 mm in diameter and could substitute for the conventional suture method.