Sodium hyaluronate as an aid in microvascular surgery

The purpose of this study was to compare the suture of a microvascular anastomosis with and without the aid of sodium hyaluronate. The divided femoral arteries of ten Sprague-Dawley rats were sutured using sodium hyaluronate on one side. Operating time, bleeding, and patency rates were studied and compared. No significant differences were found in the measured parameters. However, the clinical impression is that the use of sodium hyaluronate facilitates the suture of a microanastomosis.