Stenosis following end-in-end microarterial anastomosis: an angiographic comparison with the end-to-end technique

Thirty end-to-end (ETE) and 30 end-in-end (EIE) microvascular anastomoses were performed in the central arteries of the ear or the saphenous arteries of 30 rabbits (diameters: 0.8-1.2 mm). The anastomoses were then examined angiographically at varying intervals postoperatively. The ETE anastomoses caused no stenosis in the majority of vessels, while the EIE anastomoses generally resulted in considerable stenosis. This was most marked one hour postoperatively, with the average luminal area in cross-section being 22% of the luminal area of the vessel. With time the stenosis in the EIE anastomoses gradually became less pronounced, but even after 90 days the cross-sectional luminal area was only 63% of the luminal area of the vessel. In a second series, EIE anastomoses were performed in five femoral arteries (diameter: 1.7-2.0 mm) and five renal arteries (diameter: 2.0-2.7 mm). The EIE technique was found to cause less pronounced stenosis in the larger vessels. In a third series, five EIE anastomoses were performed in the central arteries of the ear according to the technique of Lauritzen and compared with five EIE anastomoses performed according to the technique of Meier. The Meier technique was more difficult to perform but produced less stenosis.