Bioabsorbable device for small-caliber vessel anastomosis.

Area of Science:

• Biomaterials Engineering
• Vascular Surgery
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Surgical anastomosis of small-caliber vessels (<2-mm diameter) remains challenging due to a lack of specialized devices.
• Existing large-caliber vessel anastomosis devices are unsuitable for microvascular applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate a novel bioabsorbable hooked device for sutureless anastomosis of small-caliber arteries.
• To assess the efficacy of the device in terms of degradation, fixation strength, and impact on vessel patency and growth.

Main Methods:

• Development of a hooked device using a bioabsorbable polymer for sutureless anastomosis.
• In vitro evaluation of polymer degradation and arterial fixation strength.
• In vivo transplantation experiments using common carotid arteries in Sprague-Dawley rats, comparing the bioabsorbable device with a nonabsorbable control.

Main Results:

• The bioabsorbable device exhibited controlled degradation, with tensile strength decreasing to 27% and 9% after 8 and 24 weeks, respectively.
• The bioabsorbable hooked device demonstrated greater fixation strength and reduced anastomotic time compared to the control.
• In vivo studies showed complete endothelial bridging by 2 weeks post-surgery. Crucially, the bioabsorbable device did not impede arterial lumen growth, unlike the control which caused significant luminal protrusion and hindered vessel diameter expansion (P < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• The bioabsorbable hooked device is an effective and promising tool for achieving sutureless anastomosis in small-caliber arteries (approximately 1-mm diameter).
• This device promotes better long-term vascular patency and growth compared to nonabsorbable controls, addressing a critical unmet need in microvascular surgery.