Anastomotic Aneurysms Following Arterial Grafting

A multi-faceted pathogenesis of vascular anastomotic aneurysms encompassing both the earlier and modern eras of vascular surgery has been proposed. A review of the clinical records of patients with such aneurysms suggests that while silk sutures were an important causative factor in the earlier era, this complication continues to occur with the more recent use of synthetic suture material. Future examination of the data suggests that the location of the anastomosis remains important in the development of these aneurysms. Moreover, operative findings suggest that graft tension, shearing and vibration forces along the suture line and degeneration of the host vessel are the more important causative factors today.