Arterial anastomoses and autogenous interposition grafts in growing rats

The fate of arterial interposition grafts in growing rats was investigated. The interrupted- and continuous-suture techniques were compared to see which allowed for better expansion of the anastomosis. We found that a graft enlarges in proportion to the growth of the parent vessel, that in end-to-end anastomosis the interrupted suture technique allowed for better expansion of the anastomosis (but not in the end-to-side model), and that the continuous suture technique was associated with a higher rate of false aneurysm formation.