Heat-induced tissue fusion for microvascular anastomosis

Laser tissue welding was compared with a crude method of bipolar coagulator-generated heat application for achieving the same heat-induced welding effect in rat microarterial anastomoses. Rat femoral arteries were anastomosed with three triangulated stay sutures and subsequent laser welding or bipolar coagulator application between each pair of stitches. Control (non-welded) vessels received nine stitches placed circumferentially. Laser-welded vessel patency at 1 or more days postoperatively was 90% (65/72) for vessels treated with 0.1-second laser pulses, not significantly different from controls (100%; 16/16) or coagulator-welded anastomoses (88%; 14/16). Pseudoaneurysm rates were higher in the welded vessels (9% and 14% for laser- and coagulator-treated vessels, respectively) than in controls (0%). Histologic and electron microscopic evaluation revealed good healing with no apparent differences between laser- and coagulator-welded repairs. These findings suggest that laser application for microvascular tissue welding is similar to poorly controlled welding with a bipolar coagulator.