Compliance in anastomoses with and without vein cuff interposition.

Objective: to compare anastomotic compliance in end-to-side anastomoses with and without vein cuff interposition. Materials polytetrafluoroethylene graft to bovine carotid artery without (standard) and with vein interposition (Linton-patch and Miller-cuff).

Methods: zonewise compliance measurement of end-to-side anastomoses in an in-vitro circulation system. The zone most distal to the suture-line served as reference compliance.

Results: directly distal to the suture-line the compliance of the Linton-patch (5.6+/-1.6%/100 mmHg) and Miller-cuff anastomosis (5.2+/-1.1%/100 mmHg) more closely approached reference compliance (standard: 5.0+/-1.2, Linton-patch: 4.5+/-1.5, Miller-cuff: 4.9+/-1.0%/100 mmHg) than that of the standard anastomosis (7.9+/-3.0%/100 mmHg). The maximal compliance values of the Linton-patch (9.5+/-2.3%/100 mmHg) and Miller-cuff anastomoses (9.8+/-2.7%/100 mmHg) were significantly higher than that of the standard end-to-side anastomosis (7.9+/-3.0%/100 mmHg). However, maximal compliance was shifted from the zone directly distal to the suture line in the standard end-to-side anastomosis, to the vein cuff interposition in the Linton-patch and Miller-cuff anastomoses.

Conclusions: the shift in maximal compliance to the wider portion of the anastomosis in the Miller-cuff and Linton-patch anastomoses may obviate reocclusion.