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Updated: Jun 5, 2026
A Training and Testing System for Performing Vascular Reconstruction In Vitro
Published on: October 26, 2019
A new polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel vascular model (KEZLEX) for microvascular anastomosis training
Tatsushi Mutoh1, Tatsuya Ishikawa, Hidenori Ono
1Department of Surgical Neurology, Research Institute for Brain and Blood Vessels-Akita, 6-10 Senshu-Kubota-machi, Akita 010-0874, Japan.
Background:
Microvascular anastomosis is a challenging neurosurgical technique that requires extensive training for one to master it. We developed a new vascular model (KEZLEX, Ono and Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) as a non-animal, realistic tool for practicing microvascular anastomosis under realistic circumstances.
Methods:
The model was manufactured from polyvinyl alcohol hydrogel to provide 1.0-3.0 mm diameter (available for 0.5-mm pitch), 6-8 cm long tubes that have qualitatively similar surface characteristics, visibility, and stiffness to human donor and recipient arteries for various bypass surgeries based on three-dimensional computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging scanning data reconstruction using visible human data set and vessel casts.
Results:
Trainees can acquire basic microsuturing techniques for end-to-end, end-to-side, and side-to-side anastomoses with handling similar to that for real arteries. To practice standard deep bypass techniques under realistic circumstances, the substitute vessel can be fixed to specific locations of a commercially available brain model with pins.
Conclusion:
Our vascular prosthesis model is simple and easy to set up for repeated practice, and will contribute to facilitate "off-the-job" training by trainees.
