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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
A Pre-clinical Rat Model for the Study of Ischemia-reperfusion Injury in Reconstructive Microsurgery
Published on: November 8, 2019
Outcomes after 1.9-microm diode laser-assisted anastomosis in reconstructive microsurgery: results in 27 patients
Franck M P Leclère1, Michel Schoofs, Bruno Buys
1Loos, Lesquin, and Lille From the Department of Plastic Surgery, Handcenter of Lille Sud Clinic and Lille University Hospital; and INSERM, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research, Université Lille Nord de France, Lille University Hospital.
Background:
Microvascular surgery has become an important method for reconstructing surgical defects resulting from trauma, tumors, or burns. The most important factor for successful free flap transfer is a well-executed anastomosis. This study was performed to review the authors' experience with a 1.9-microm diode laser in microsurgery, with special attention to outcomes and performance of the technique.
Methods:
Between January of 2005 and December of 2007, 27 patients underwent microsurgery with a 1.9-microm diode laser at the authors' institute. The patients had a mean age of 31 years (range, 2 to 59 years); 14 patients were women and 13 patients were men. This technique was used for digital replantations (n = 2) and for free flap transfer (n = 27). Causes of the defects were trauma (n = 14), tumor (n = 9), congenital (n = 2), burn (n = 1), infection (n = 1), arthritis (n = 1), and dog bite (n = 1). Laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis was performed with a 1.9-microm diode laser after placement of equidistant stitches. The following parameters were used: spot size, 400 microm; power, 125 mW; time depending on vessel size (0.8 to 1.8 mm); and fluence varying from 70 to 200 J/cm.
Results:
Three surgical revisions following hematoma and one rupture of the arterial anastomosis leading to a free deep inferior epigastric perforator flap necrosis resulting from high-dose radiotherapy before surgery occurred after laser-assisted microvascular anastomosis, accounting for an overall success rate of 96.6 percent.
Conclusion:
This study reports the numerous benefits of the technique: easier performance of vascular anastomosis with difficult access, decrease of reperfusion bleeding and complications, and a short learning curve.
