The irrigation jet: an aid in microvascular surgery

Techniques for manipulating and positioning blood vessels during microvascular surgery which utilize a jeweler's forceps tend to inflict significant trauma to the wall and to the intima of the vessel. An irrigation jet device was designed which allows atraumatic positioning of the vessel, gentle and controlled dilation , and better visualization. With this device rat arteries and veins with an external diameter of 0.6 mm. were joined. Upon examination 3 weeks later, over 95 percent remained patent. In addition, vessels of 0.2 to 0.4 mm. were anastomosed successfully with a long-term patency rate of approximately 50 percent. The device has been found to be useful in clinical replantation and revascularization problems in man.