Laser-assisted vascular welding: optimization of acute and post-hydration welding strength

Dara R. Pabittei^1,2,3, Michal Heger^4*, Marc Simonet⁵, Sjoerd van Tuijl⁶, Allard C. van der Wal⁷, Ed van Bavel⁸, Ron Balm², Bas A. J. M. de Mol^1,5,6

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¹ Department of Cardio -thoracic Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

² Department of Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

³ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Jl, Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

⁴ Department of Experimental Surgery, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

⁵ Department of Biomedical Engineering, Material Technology, Technical University Eindhoven, the Netherlands

⁶ HemoLab, Den Dolech 2, 5612 AZ Eindhoven, the Netherlands

⁷ Department of Pathology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands

⁸ Department of Biomedical Engineering and Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands

JCTR 2015, 1(1), 31–47; https://doi.org/10.18053/jctres.201501.001

Received: 21 April 2015 | Revised: 18 June 2015 | Accepted: 21 June 2015 | Published online: 18 June 2015

© 2015 by the Author(s). This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution -Noncommercial 4.0 International License (CC-by the license) ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ )

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Abstract

Background: Liquid solder laser-assisted vascular welding using biocompatible polymeric scaffolds (ssLAVW) is a novel technique for vascular anastomoses. Although ssLAVW has pronounced advantages over conventional suturing, drawbacks include low welding strength and extensive thermal damage.
Aim: To determine optimal ssLAVW parameters for maximum welding strength and minimal thermal damage.
Methods: Substudy 1 compared breaking strength (BS) of aortic strips welded with electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) or poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) scaffold, 670-nm laser, 50-s single-spot continuous lasing (SSCL), and semi-solid solder (48% bovine serum albumin (BSA)/0.5% methylene blue (MB)/3% hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC)). Substudy 2 compared the semi-solid solder to 48% BSA/0.5% MB/0.38% genipin and 48% BSA/0.5% MB/3% HPMC/0.38% genipin solder. Substudy 3 compared SSCL to single-spot pulsed lasing (SSPL).
Results: PCL-ssLAVW yielded an acute BS of 248.0±54.0N/cm2 and remained stable up to 7d of hydration. PLGA-ssLAVW obtained higher acute BS (408.6±78.8N/cm2) but revealed structural defects and a BS of 109.4±42.6N/cm2 after14d of hydration. The addition of HPMC and genipin improved the 14-d BS of PLGA-ssLAVW (223.9±19.1N/cm2). Thermal damage was reduced with SSPL compared with SSCL.
Conclusions: PCL-ssLAVW yielded lower but more stable welds than PLGA-ssLAVW. The addition of HPMC and genipin to the solder increased the post-hydration BS of PLGA-ssLAVW. SSPL regimen reduced thermal damage. PLGA-ssLAVW using 48% BSA/0.5% MB/3% HPMC/0.38% genipin solder and SSPL constitutes the most optimal welding modality.
Relevance for patients: Surgical patients requiring vascular anastomoses may benefit from the advantages that ssLAVW potentially offers over conventional (gold standard) sutures. These include no needle trauma and remnant suture materials in the patient, reduction of foreign body reaction, immediate liquid-tight sealing, and the possibility of a faster and easier procedure for minimally invasive and endoscopic anastomotic techniques.

Keywords

non-invasive vascular surgery

cohesive and adhesive bonding

coaptation

albumin solder

polycaprolactone

poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)

biomaterial scaffold

Conflict of interest

The authors declare they have no competing interests.

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