Abstract
The vascular anastomoses are usually made with sutures. Some mainly experimental studies
have been published about a new method of doing the vascular anastomoses with metal
clips. We studied the suitability of vascular closure staple (VCS) clip applier system
for making the anastomoses in femoropopliteal and femorotibial arterial reconstruction.
During an 11-month period, VCS clips were used in 17 out of 27 patients who were operated
due to severe claudication or incipient gangrena of the foot. Altogether 26 anastomoses
were made with VCS clips using either great saphenous vein or PTFE graft. The making
of anastomosis was easy and reliable. No postoperative bleeding was noticed. All anastomoses
were patent 4–6 weeks postoperatively studied by palpation and measured by ankle brachial
pressure index (mean 0.96). In Duplex Doppler examination all studied patients had
well patent anastomoses on an average 11 months after the operation. With VCS clip
applier system, it is possible to do anastomoses in arteriosclerotic arteries like
in femoropopliteal reconstructions. This method helps making reliable anastomoses
more easily.
