ViPS technique as a novel concept for a sutureless vascular anastomosis

Abstract

To describe a novel technique (Viabhan Padova Sutureless [ViPS]) that connects a vascular prosthetic graft to a target artery in a sutureless fashion. The patient was a 74-year-old male with complete superficial femoral artery (FA) occlusion and reconstitution of a circumferentially calcified above-knee popliteal artery (ANPA). The proximal end of a surgeon-modified 7-mm Viabahn endoprosthesis was sutured to a 7-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft (PTFEg). After surgical exposure, the ANPA was transected, and the undeployed distal portion of the Viabahn was inserted, supported by a stiff guidewire. The distal portion of the Viabahn graft was then deployed and ballooned with optimal apposition. Finally, the proximal end of the PTFEg was sutured to the common FA. Operative time was 60 minutes. Completion angiogram and the computed tomography angiogram at 6 months demonstrated a patent graft. The ViPS technique provides an alternative for bypass creation when challenging arterial anastomoses are required.