What specific technique did Alexis Carrel develop to solve the problem of joining blood vessels during surgery?
Answer
The triangulation technique for vascular anastomosis
Alexis Carrel revolutionized vascular surgery by introducing the triangulation technique for vascular anastomosis. By placing three stay sutures at equidistant points on the edges of two blood vessels, surgeons could form a triangular opening. This specific arrangement ensured that the interior walls of the vessels remained smooth and perfectly aligned, which was essential to prevent thrombosis and hemorrhage. This mechanical breakthrough allowed surgeons to reliably join arteries and veins, a foundational step without which organ transplantation would have remained impossible.

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