To test laser-assisted high flow bypass in cerebral revascularization procedures, we set up an experimental model on rabbits which included harvesting a jugular vein graft and its implantation on the common carotid artery through a double end-to-side anastomosis. The study was carried out on 25 New Zealand rabbits by performing on each animal the proximal anastomosis using conventional suturing, while the distal one was obtained by means of low-power diode laser welding in association with the topical application of Indocyanine Green (ICG) solution to enhance local absorption of the laser light. After the procedure, the animals were subjected to a follow-up from 2 to 9 days. Bypass patency was evaluated by means of Doppler study. The vascular segments were excised and evaluated by histological and immunohistochemical examinations. Utilization of the diode laser was associated with a substantial shortening of the operative time, as well as with a more active endothelial regeneration process at the anastomotic site.

Date Published: 25 April 2005
PDF: 6 pages
Proc. SPIE 5686, Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics, (25 April 2005); doi: 10.1117/12.586720

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 5686:
Photonic Therapeutics and Diagnostics
Brian Jet-Fei Wong M.D.; Eugene A. Trowers M.D.; Kenton W. Gregory M.D.; Abraham Katzir; Nikiforos Kollias; Reza S. Malek M.D.; Henry Hirschberg M.D.; Kenneth Eugene Bartels D.V.M.; Steen J. Madsen; Lloyd P. Tate V.D.M.; Lawrence S. Bass M.D.; Werner T. W. de Riese; Karen M. McNally-Heintzelman, Editor(s)