Surgical construction of an in vivo carotid siphon model to test neurovascular devices.
OBJECTIVE
We developed an animal model to evaluate vascular trauma induced by endovascular devices that are proposed for the treatment of cerebrovascular diseases.


METHODS
The model was constructed in six domestic swine by elongating the common carotid artery using interpositional grafts. Balloon catheters (n = 3), stents (n = 2), and a snare were tested 9 to 13 days after surgery. Device performance was evaluated by angiography, macroscopic photography, and histopathological examination.


RESULTS
Animals tolerated the surgical procedure well, and artificial siphons were thought to provide realistic conditions for device testing. Balloon catheters induced minimal trauma, whereas coronary stents caused severe spasm or thrombosis and extensive macroscopic changes.


CONCLUSIONS
Construction of an in vivo siphon model is feasible and potentially useful for testing neurovascular devices.
Georganos
Stavros A
SA
Department of Radiology, Notre-Dame Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Guilbert
François
F
Salazkin
Igor
I
Gévry
Guylaine
G
Raymond
Jean
J
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000295:instrumentation; D000818:Animals; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D023421:Models, Animal; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates