Microvascular anastomoses: a comparison of the end-to-end and the telescoped techniques in rats

The end-to-end anastomotic technique and the telescoped anastomotic technique were compared in a paired experimental study of 200 primarily patent anastomoses in the femoral arteries and veins of rats. It was found that the arterial telescoped anastomosis was faster and simpler to perform and had a significantly lower frequency of late thrombotic deposition (13%) than the arterial end-to-end anastomosis (41%), although the patency rates at 1 week were equal (88%). Aneurysms at the site of the anastomosis were not observed in the arterial telescoped anastomoses, while initial stages of probable aneurysms were observed in 24% of the arterial end-to-end anastomoses. The venous telescoped anastomoses were also less time-consuming and simpler to construct. Although equal patency rates at 1 week were obtained (84%-88%), the venous telescoped anastomoses displayed a significantly more pronounced incidence of thrombotic deposition at the site of the anastomosis.