Dilatation in anastomosed arteries can be an artifact of explantation

Fusiform dilation of the anastomotic site was found at explantation in the majority of rabbit femoral arteries anastomosed with newly developed microclips. This observation was also noted at sutured anastomoses. The mechanism responsible for this morphologic finding was studied by the following experiments: 1) measuring and explanting anastomosed arteries relaxed with 20% lidocaine, 2) latex casts of microclipped arteries, 3) comparing angiographic and histologic morphometric data, and 4) examining synthetic vascular graft anastomoses with identical dilatation. The observations demonstrate that trauma associated with explantation (direct dissection and fixative perfusion) leads to arterial vasoconstriction, but focal medial damage at the anastomotic site prevents constriction at this site.