Primary end-to-side anastomoses between the left upper pulmonary vein and left atrium performed in 21 puppies with continuous 5-0 polydioxanone (PDS) or polypropylene (PRO). Animals were sacrificed at 1, 7 and 28 days after operation. Stenosis occurred in one of 5 animals of the PDS group at 7 days and 28 days respectively, and one of 5 animals of the PRO group at 28 days. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of anastomosis patency. Histological examination showed slight tissue reaction and fibrosis surrounding the sutures in both groups. This study suggests that the absorbable monofilament suture material, in particular PDS, is useful for the repair of low pressure circulatory system and will not cause the stenosis of the anastomotic site.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), mortality by age, sex, and cause of death is the foun­dation of public health both globally and domestically. Comparable mortality statistics over time and investi­gations of mortality were used to develop the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD). In the ICD, the WHO states that morbidity statistics are also an essential foundation of public health, but they are much less widely applied. The 10th revision of the ICD (ICD-10) is now in use, but further revisions must be made in the development of the 11th revision (ICD-11) to capture advances in health science and medical practice, to make better use of the digital revolution, and to evaluate traditional medicine (TM). Revision of ICD-10 began in 2007, and an ICD-11 version for preparing implementation was released on July 18, 2018. ICD-11 features a new TM chapter on Japanese traditional medicine, known as Kampo medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, and Korean medicine. ICD-11 will be approved at the next World Health Assembly in May 2019 and will come into effect. This means that the WHO does not currently recognize the effects of TM, but that we as well as the WHO will have hard time to prepare and study the effects of TM on morbidity statistics. It is very important to the study of Kampo medicine that we will be able to properly evaluate the terms and classifications contained in ICD-11.