Evaluation of endovascular techniques for creating a porcine femoral artery occlusion model.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the optimal endovascular approach to achieve long-term occlusion of large arteries, while preserving the integrity of periarterial tissue, in an animal model of ischemia.


METHODS
Femoral artery occlusions were created in 16 pigs using detachable balloons, coils, or blinded stent-grafts. Feasibility, safety, primary and long-term success, and the degree of neovascularization were determined over a 6-month period by serial angiography and histological analyses. Four animals served as untreated controls.


RESULTS
Overall primary success for all occlusion devices was 100%. The 6-month occlusion rate using detachable balloons or coils was 33% and 0%, respectively; however, all arteries occluded with blinded stent-grafts remained obstructed to the end of the study. There was no significant difference in capillary densities and collateralization of periarterial areas when occluded arteries were compared with nonoccluded controls in the same animal. No increase in collateralization was observed following endovascular arterial occlusion.


CONCLUSIONS
Percutaneous insertion of blinded stent-grafts easily, safely, and reliably creates long-term arterial occlusion in pigs, which may make this a more appropriate model for studying the effects of angiogenic factors in vivo.
Nikol
S
S
Medical Department I, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany. s-nikol@gmx.de
Armeanu
S
S
Engelmann
M G
MG
Pelisek
J
J
Fuchs
A
A
Zähringer
C
C
Bartoli
J M
JM
Mesana
T
T
Rolland
P H
PH
D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D000818:Animals; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002404:Catheterization; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation