Expanding the applications of microvascular surgical techniques to digestive surgeries: a technical review

In living donor liver transplantation (LDLT), it is considered safer to reconstruct hepatic arteries (HAs) under a microscope than under conventional loupe magnification, because graft HA stumps are generally thin and short with an average diameter of approximately 2 mm. We first applied microvascular surgical techniques to HA reconstruction for LDLT in 1996. In most cases, we use a disposable double-clip to secure the graft and recipient arteries, and interrupted 8-0 nonabsorbable monofilament sutures. We next started performing resection and reconstruction of the right HA in a surgery for hilar cholangioma using the same technique as in LDLT. Lately, we have started applying microvascular surgical techniques to various digestive surgeries; namely, supercharge and superdrainage in esophageal surgery, vascular reconstruction in free jejunal interposition grafts for cervical esophageal cancer, resection and reconstruction of spontaneous HA aneurysms, jejunal artery reconstruction for spontaneous superior mesenteric artery dissections, and so forth. Mastering this technique is time consuming. However, once a surgeon masters the technique it has almost unlimited applications, and most vital vessels can be safely reconstructed using this method. We herein provide a technical review of the application of microvascular surgical techniques for various digestive surgeries.