The relationship between suture number and quality of anastomoses in microvascular procedures.

Microvascular end-to-side arterial anastomoses of vessels 1 to 2 mm in diameter were performed in 30 Sprague-Dawley rats. The animals studied differed in only one aspect, variance of suture number to complete the anastomosis. Angiographic and gross pathological evaluation of each animal demonstrated a direct correlation between quality of patency and number of sutures used to complete the anastomoses. A significant observation was made regarding unrecognized pathology in angiographically patent anastomosis.