Fibrinolytic activity following laser-assisted vascular anastomosis

New technology has allowed tissue bonding to be feasible using carbon dioxide laser energy. Laser-assisted vascular anastomosis (LAVA) has shown comparable patency results with standard suture anastomosis, but LAVA procedures produce thermally induced transmural structural alterations. To assess functional intimal recovery in LAVA versus sutured vessels, a fibrinolytic slide technique was utilized in 21 rats which had LAVA performed in one femoral artery while the opposite limb underwent a conventional microsuture anastomosis. Conventional anastomosis had persistent fibrinolytic activity while LAVA had return of fibrinolytic activity by 48 hours. Intimal fibrinolysis inhibition following LAVA is reversible and this technique does not lead to an increased incidence of thrombosis.