Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 24, 2026
Evaluation of a Novel Laser-assisted Coronary Anastomotic Connector - the Trinity Clip - in a Porcine Off-pump Bypass Model
Published on: November 24, 2014
25 years of laser assisted vascular anastomosis (LAVA): what have we learned?
I C D Y M Wolf-de Jonge1, J F Beek, R Balm
1Department of Vascular Surgery, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Objectives:
Laser assisted vascular anastomosis (LAVA) has been developed to a stage where clinical use is within reach. Advantages of LAVA are minimal vessel damage, faster operation and the potential for minimally invasive application.
Design:
A Medline literature search was performed on vessel welding combined with cross-referencing.
Results:
Four different lasers have mostly been used for LAVA, always in combination with stay sutures. The CO(2) laser has only been used in the early period. Without solder, mean leaking point pressures (LPP) of 754 mmHg (n=75) were obtained, only slightly lower than in suture controls (LPP=915 mmHg, n=82). At follow-up the percentage of aneurysms was high (overall 12% in n=486). Although Argon LAVA showed moderate success (LPP=146 mmHg, n=125), the first clinical application has been successfully performed. Diode LAVA in combination with solder and dye resulted in an acceptable LPP of 409 mmHg (n=163) in larger vessels, with a low incidence of aneurysm formation (1% in n=107).
Conclusion:
At present the diode laser is the most popular. Solder developments resulted in stronger welds and might make stay sutures redundant. The combination of CO(2) laser and solders has not been evaluated and deserves further investigation.
