KTP-532 laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis (experimental animal study)

Former animal studies on laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis performed with CO(2)-, argon-, diode-, Holmium:YAG- and Nd:YAG-lasers had already proven the stability of the anastomotic sites. Tissue damage remained minimal along the anastomosis, while duration of the surgeries decreased significantly compared to that of traditionally implemented microvascular sutures. In addition to this, foreign body reaction next to end-to-end anastomosis appeared to be minimal due to fewer traditional stitches. This animal study was designed in order to investigate the durability and the histological properties of microvascular anastomosis assisted by KTP-532 laser. Twenty-one Wistar albino rats were used: in nine animals the KTP-laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis was carried out on the femoral artery. Those nine animals were divided into three groups and each of them consisted of three rats. The animals in these three groups were sacrificed 4 h, 1 and 4 weeks following the surgery, respectively. In three additional animals laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis was done on the abdominal aorta. Conventional microvascular sutures were carried out on femoral arteries of further nine animals in the control group. The healing process of the femoral arteries is documented with figures of histological slides both in the laser-treated and in the conventionally operated group of rats. The KTP-laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis failed on the abdominal aorta, as strong bleedings occurred after the traditional sutures had been taken out. However, the coagulative effect of the KTP-laser could still be used. The authors share the opinion that the success of the laser-assisted end-to-end microvascular anastomosis does not depend on the wavelength of the applied laser, but can be affected by both the calibre of the vessel and the intraluminal pressure.