Technique description
  • The parachute technique is a useful technique for arterial reconstruction, and can be applied to quite small vessels. Here we present a Hepatic Artery reconstruction seen in a living donor liver transplant case, where the technique is used to bring the posterior walls of the donor and recipient hepatic arteries together.
  • A gentle degree of tension should be applied to both arterial ends - this prevents kinking of the anastomosis after occluding clamps are removed.
  • Heparinized saline should be used to wet the sutures before 'parachuting' to reduce friction.
  • Gentle lateral tension should applied in a direction perpendicular to the axis of the vessels; note that the amount of tension should be equal on both ends.
  • Intermittent counter-tension should be applied in the direction of the axis of the vessels; this helps distribute tension evenly along the suture.
  • The anterior wall would then be completed with the continuation of the running suture.

RELATED CATEGORIES: TRANSPLANT | SURGICAL TECHNIQUEVASCULAR

SHARE THIS: