An experimental model of Stanford type B aortic dissection.
OBJECTIVE
To create an experimental model of aortic dissection with a long-lasting patent false lumen as a proper animal model for development of less-invasive treatment for aortic dissection.


METHODS
Fifteen adult beagle dogs (weight, 10-12 kg) were used. The descending aorta was exposed by a left thoracotomy at the sixth intercostal space. The entry for the aortic dissection was created surgically just distal to the origin of the left innominate artery and the reentry was 5 cm distal to the entry point. Normal saline solution was injected into the aortic wall (ie, media) between these two points to create the dissection. The dogs were followed up at 1 day, 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years.


RESULTS
All 12 surviving dogs had completely patent true and false lumina without any thrombi. Microscopic examination showed that the dissection was created in the tunica media layer, making it identical to aortic dissection in humans. Color Doppler imaging confirmed the patency of the true and false lumina and the relatively narrowed true lumen.


CONCLUSIONS
In this canine model of aortic dissection, the false lumen has excellent long-term patency and the dissection plane is histologically similar to that in human aortic dissection. This model may contribute to the development of new treatments for Stanford type B aortic dissection.
Terai
Hiromu
H
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, Japan. h-tera@m.kufm.kagoshima-u.ac.jp
Tamura
Nobushige
N
Yuasa
Sadatoshi
S
Nakamura
Tatsuo
T
Shimizu
Yasuhiko
Y
Komeda
Masashi
M
D000784:Aortic Dissection / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000818:Animals; D017545:Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D004547:Elastic Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D013908:Thoracotomy; D013997:Time Factors; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014654:Vascular Patency