Technical aspects of catheter-related interventions in the liver of the rabbit.
OBJECTIVE
On the basis of 89 different vascular interventions performed in the livers of 39 rabbits, we attempted to establish the feasibility and technical limitations of these procedures.


METHODS
Forty-five selective hepatic artery catheterizations were carried out using 0.66-mm and 1.0-mm catheters, including superselective proper hepatic catheterizations (n = 14) using a specially designed 0.66-mm introducer/catheter system. The portal system was investigated with both direct (n = 5) and indirect (arterial) (n = 4) portography. Hepatic, vein catheterizations were performed in 22 cases.


RESULTS
With the 0.66-mm system, spasm occurred in one of 11 cases in the proper hepatic artery, and no spasm was observed in the common hepatic and celiac arteries. Both arterial portography and hepatic venography were easily performed and were a precise and repeatable method.


CONCLUSIONS
The 0.66-mm system has proved to be advantageous over the 1.0-mm catheterization in avoiding arterial spasm. Direct portography as well as catheterization of the hepatic vein from a jugular approach are hazardous, leading to serious complications including the death of the animal.
Kónya
A
A
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA.
Wright
K C
KC
Szwarc
I A
IA
Collins
R D
RD
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006499:Hepatic Artery; D006503:Hepatic Veins; D010690:Phlebography / Q000379:methods; D011172:Portography / Q000379:methods; D011817:Rabbits