Long‐term investigations of laser‐assisted microvascular anastomoses with the 1.318‐μm Nd:YAG laser

Laser‐assisted microvascular anastomoses can be performed with the most diverse types of laser (Dujovny et al: 4th Annu Gen Sci Meet LANSI, 1986; Godlewski et al: World J Surg 10:329‐333, 1986; Gomes et al: Rev Hosp Clin Fac Med Sao Paulo 37:255, 1982; Quigley et al: Laser Surg Med 5:357–367, 1985; Quigley et al: Lancet 1:334, 1985; Quigley et al: Neurosurgery 18(3):292–299, 1986; Jain: J Microsurg 1:436–439, 1980; Jain: Lancet 2:816–817, 1984; Krueger and Almquist: Lasers Surg Med 5:55, 1985; Neblett et al: Neurosurgery 19(6):914–934, 1986; Schober et al: Science 232:1421–1422, 1986; Ulrich et al: 2nd Annu Gen Sci Meet LANSI, 1984; Ulrich and Bock: Optoelectronics in Medicine, Spring‐Verlag 418–423, 1986). However, postoperative complications in the form of thromboses and aneurysmatic sacs could be detected in 7–29.8% in longitudinal investigations. By conversion of the beam geometry (1.3 μm Nd:YAG laser, 200 μm light conductor) and use of three concentrically applied 10.0 backstitch sutures in 25 end‐to‐end anastomoses of the common carotid artery of adult albino rats 0.8–1.2 mm in diameter, early and late complications could be markedly reduced (12%).