Assessment of experimental saccular aneurysm using selective angiography in common carotid artery of rabbits

Abstract

In order to study the treatment of aneurysms, the technique of making experimental aneurysms in laboratory animals must be established. In our study, to examine the feasibility of making experimental aneurysm and selective angiography on the common carotid artery in rabbits and to determine the size of experimental aneurysm after surgery,saccular aneurysms were fashioned on the right common carotid artery in 17 rabbits using a vein pouch technique. Selective angiography of the common carotid artery was performed immediately aft er surgery, and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks aft er surgery. Also, histological changes in the aneurysms were observed. In 16 rabbits with established successful experimental aneurysm, no diff erences were found in diet intake and behavior before and aft er surgery. Th e patency of the carotid artery was confi rmed by selective angiography. Th e average size of the aneurysm immediately aft er surgery was similar to that of 1week postoperatively in selective angiography, however it increased with time at 4weeks and 8 weeks. Histologically, infi ltration of infl ammatory cells and hemorrhage were found at the junction of the carotid artery and the vein pouch at 1 week, which disappeared at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. Th is study suggests experimental saccular aneurysm using the vein pouch technique might form aneurysms similar to that of the human in its properties such as increment of size, and selective angiography might be suitable for assessment of experimental aneurysm. Th erefore, this animal model may be suitable for investigating new treatment methodologies for human aneurysms.