title: Wall mechanics of the stented rabbit aorta: long-term study and correlation with histological findings.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate long-term changes in arterial wall mechanics induced by stenting of the rabbit aorta.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen New Zealand white rabbits had initial stent deployment (3x8 mm Multilink) at 110% of the pre-stenting abdominal aortic diameter. Group A (n=10) had no postdeployment stent expansion and group B (n=8) had 30% overdilation of the stent. A noninvasive B-mode ultrasound examination coupled with image processing allowed measurement of diameters at systole and diastole and the calculation of diameter compliance. Measurements were performed before stenting and compared to those recorded immediately after stenting and at 3 months at 3 locations: upstream from the stent, at the stent level, and downstream from the stent. Measurements were also compared among measurement sites. The pathological study included measurement of intimal thickening and calculation of an injury score.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the stent level, diameter compliance was significantly lower after initial stenting and at 3 months than before stenting (group A: p<0.005; group B: p<0.001) and than downstream or upstream from the stent (group A: p<0.0001, group B: p<0.005). No significant difference in diameter compliance was found between groups A and B. In group B, intimal thickening and the injury score were greater than in group A (p<0.05 and p<0.0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular stenting of the rabbit aorta impairs wall mechanics. Performing 30% overdilation of the stent does not worsen this impairment but induces greater in-stent intimal hyperplasia.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cardiovascular Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Montpellier I University, Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vernhet
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demaria
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pérez-Martin
authors.forename: Jean Marie
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Juan
authors.forename: Marie Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Oliva-Lauraire
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marty-Double
authors.forename: Jean Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Sénac
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dauzat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004548:Elasticity; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors