Mbaidjol, Zacharia; Stoffel, Michael H.; Frenz, Martin; Constantinescu, Mihai A. (2021). A novel technique for laser-assisted revascularization: an in vitro pilot study. Lasers in medical science, 36(4), pp. 855-862. Springer-Verlag 10.1007/s10103-020-03128-6
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The common limitation of surgical revascularization procedures for severe tissue ischemia due to cardiovascular diseases is the need to interrupt blood flow during the intervention. We aim to introduce a new technique that allows a sutureless, non-occlusive revascularization. A 3-step technique was developed using rabbit's aorta to simulate a side-to-side anastomosis model. It enables the creation of a bypass circuit for revascularization. The first step was the soldering of 2 vessels in a side-to-side fashion based on the laser-assisted vascular anastomosis (LAVA) principle using a diode laser emitting irradiation at 810 nm with an albumin-based solder patch between them, followed by the creation of a channel within the patch using either a holmium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet laser (Ho:YAG) at λ = 2100 nm or a xenon-chloride excimer laser (XeCl) at λ = 308 nm. Thereby, a bypass circuit was created, thus allowing a non-ischemic revascularization. The system was deemed functional when a flow was observed across the anastomosis. The highest average tensile strength recorded after side-to-side LAVA using a diode laser power of 3.2 W for 60 s was 2278.6 ± 800 mN (n = 20). The Ho:YAG laser created the channels with less tension on the anastomosis than the excimer laser. Histological analysis showed limited thermal damage and good patch-tissue adaptation. The preliminary results of this feasibility study outline the foundations for an entirely sutureless laser-assisted revascularization procedure. The next studies will evaluate the rheological parameters across the bypass circuit to optimize the post-anastomotic flow.