OBJECTIVE: To explore an ideal way of small vessel anastomosis for microsurgery. METHODS: Anastomosis of both carotid arteries were performed in 20 rabbits. One side of the arteries were anastomosed with anastomotic clips, the other side of the arteries, as comparison, were anastomosed with suture. The vessels were harvested at first and 14th day after operation and were evaluated using operating microscope, light microscope and electronic microscope. RESULTS: The average anastomotic time for suture was about 15 minutes, while for the clips was 2 to 5 minutes. There were no difference in patency between the two techniques. Endothelialization at the anastomotic sites were both completed 14 days postoperatively. However, for the anastomotic clips, there were no endothelia damage and foreign bodies formation inside the vessels. CONCLUSION: This experiment has confirmed that the anastomotic clip’s procedure provides a very safe and easy way to perform anastomosis and reduce the incidence of thromboses.