Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 21/09/2016 19:23:02

Title: How are blood vessels rejoined after surgery so they don't leak?
Post by: thedoc on 21/09/2016 19:23:02

Don Grunbaum  asked the Naked Scientists:

Hi Chris

How are blood vessels re-joined after surgery so that they don't leak? Suturing would surely leak under pressure? 

Regards Don Grunbaum (East Harling, Norfolk)
 
What do you think?

Title: Re: How are blood vessels rejoined after surgery so they don't leak?
Post by: syhprum on 22/09/2016 08:05:50

Until recently sewing together was the only way either by hand or with a stapling machine.
This required great skill and patience and often failed to make a leak proof joint but of late a method has been devised where by the receiving end of the blood vessel can be plugged with a substance that can be solidified with a modest amount of heating and the source part of the vessel over lapped and glued onto it.
I do not know if this technique has reached the clinic yet but it seems very promising.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/425366/gel-lets-doctors-fix-ruptured-blood-vessels-without-sutures/