A mathematical assessment of suture line stress in the end-to-side anastomosis-I. Steady flow

The tensile force acting on the suture line connecting a synthetic graft to a host artery in an end-to-side anastomosis is shown to increase from 23,000 to 55,000 dyn as the ratio of the graft-artery area increased from 0.5 to 1.2. The angle of the end-to-side anastomosis is shown to have negligible effect on the suture line stress. The stresses calculated for 3-0. Tevdek suture subjected to the above forces are shown to be one-fiftieth of the yield strength of that suture material. However, it is suggested that such suture forces could cause the suture to tear through the host arterial wall unless sufficient sutures per cm, and maximum suture-host artery contact area are established.