ENDO-GIA Staplers for Side-to-Side Anastomosis of Veins

ObjectiveTo study the application of ENDO-GIA staplers for the side-to-side anastomosis of veins.Materials and MethodsAn animal study was conducted. Five dogs received side-to-side anastomosis of allograft IVC by ENDO-GIA staplers (Group 1). In addition, five received the same operation with right renal vein reimplantation to allograft IVC (Group 2). Five dogs, receiving the same operation as in Group 1 using polypropylene sutures (control group, Group 3). An autopsy was performed if the dogs survived more than 8 weeks.ResultsThe IVC anastomosis remained patent in four subjects (80%) for Group 1, in five subjects (100%) for Group 2 and in four subjects (80%) for Group 3.ConclusionsFrom the results of our experiment, ENDO-GIA staplers can be considered for use in the side-to-side anastomosis of large veins such as piggyback cavacaval side-to-side anastomosis in cadaveric orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) or side-to-side splenorenal shunt in portal hypertension.