Air pressure vascular clamp. Experimental study and clinical application]

An air pressure vascular clamp was designed for vascular surgery. On femoral arteries of 90 rats, vascular injury and anastomosis experiments were made to compare this clamp with 2 other vascular clamps commonly used, and the pressure on blood vessels from different clamps was determined. Examination with operating, light and electron microscopes showed that the number of vascular injuries and their degree were the least after use of this clamp, the pressure of which could be adjusted just to block blood flow, suitable for blood vessels of different calibers. Satisfactory results have been obtained through its clinical application in 43 patients having 119 vascular anastomoses. It is thought that the unobstructed rate of vascular anastomosis can be raised by the application of this vascular clamp, especially for vessels of small caliber and long period of compression.