LAUSR

OBJECTIVE The standard way of isolating bypass vessels from surrounding structures during cerebral bypass surgery has been to use a rubber dam or neurosurgical patty. Here, the use of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) sponges is described as a possible upgrade from these traditional bypass dams. METHODS PVA sponges were used to isolate bypass arteries from surrounding tissues during microvascular anastomosis in 25 patients undergoing bypass surgery at our institution. RESULTS There were no adverse events related to the use of PVA for microvascular anastomosis. PVA sponges offered some specific advantages when compared to rubber and cottonoid dams. CONCLUSIONS Although preliminary, our experience using PVA sponges during microvascular anastomosis suggests some of their properties can facilitate cerebral bypass surgery.