The microvascular anastomotic autogenous cuff.

A carefully controlled experimental study of the haemostasis time and the patency rates in microvascular anastomoses of the rat femoral artery shows very high patency rates in 0.8-1 mm vessels with only four sutures and with the use of anastomotic autogenous cuffs to provide immediate haemostasis. The "posterior-wall-first" technique of anastomosis was performed in all cases. Not only are fewer sutures required: vascular trauma is reduced, less foreign material is introduced at the site of anastomosis and the time to complete the anastomosis is reduced. The results of this study have obvious clinical applications.