Creating Clinically Relevant Aneurysm Sizes in the Rabbit Surgical Elastase Model.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-8-2021

Publication Title

World Neurosurg

Keywords

california, santa monica; psjmc

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Creating aneurysm sizes in animal models that resemble human aneurysms is essential to study and test neuroendovascular devices. The commonly used rabbit surgical elastase model, however, produces saccular aneurysms that are smaller than those typically treated in humans. The goal of this study was to determine whether an increased vessel stump length and the addition of calcium chloride to the incubation solution has an effect on the resulting aneurysm size.

METHODS: Using a modified aneurysm creation method, thirty two female New Zealand White rabbits underwent aneurysm creation procedures. Subjects were equally allocated into four different groups based on vessel stump length (2 cm controls versus 3 cm) and incubation solution (elastase alone controls versus a 1:1 mixture of elastase and calcium chloride). At four weeks, all animals underwent angiography to determine the resulting aneurysm size by a neurointerventionalist that was blinded to treatment group.

RESULTS: An increase in stump length from 2 cm to 3 cm resulted in a significant increase in the height of aneurysm (p

CONCLUSION: Creating larger aneurysms is necessary for the rabbit model to be more clinically relevant. Our study demonstrated that the utilization of a 3 cm vessel stump as well as both calcium chloride and elastase in the incubation solution results in aneurysm sizes that more closely resemble the population of aneurysms treated in humans.

Clinical Institute

Neurosciences (Brain & Spine)

Department

Neurosciences

Department

Surgery

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