A Technique for End-to-Side Vascular Anastomosis

A technique of end-to-side venous anastomosis evolved during canine experiments at St. Luke's Hospital Laboratory seems to have advantages over the present technique. The first advantage of this technique is the reduced incidence of inadvertent suturing of the posterior suture line to the anterior suture line. In the past this has been achieved by placing traction sutures^{1 (p95)} or using nerve hooks² to separate the walls while suturing.

Present techniques employ either a longitudinal incision³ or excision of an elipse of the side wall.^1(p93) Upon completion of the anastomosis, there will be either a longitudinal slit or an oval opening at the suture line. The oval opening is said to have an advantage in maintaining patency. The technique described produces an adequate lumen by a different method. In this instance, anastomosis of the renal vein to the common iliac vein is described, but the method is