title: Creation of sidewall aneurysm in rabbits: aneurysm patency and growth follow-up.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To explore the patency and growth of surgical sidewall aneurysms in rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty sidewall aneurysms were created in the right common carotid artery (RCCA). Intravenous digital subtraction angiography (DSA) through the ear vein was performed immediately after creation. Three weeks later, intra-arterial DSA through the femoral artery was performed. Aneurysm sizes (neck, width, height and volume) were measured and calculated immediately after creation and 3 weeks later. Aneurysm patency after creation was evaluated. Differences in aneurysm sizes immediately after creation and 3 weeks later were compared using the Student's t test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aneurysms and the parent artery remained patent in 38 (95%) of the 40 rabbits 3 weeks after creation. Two other rabbits (5%) showed aneurysm occlusion. There was a significant difference in aneurysm neck size 3 weeks after creation (3.6±0.9 mm vs 2.4±0.4 mm, p<0.0001). The aneurysm became wider 3 weeks later (5.8±1.5 mm vs 4.3±1.2 mm, p<0.0001). Aneurysm length was also larger than immediately after creation (6.1±1.3 mm vs 4.3±1.4 mm, p<0.0001). The aneurysm volume was larger than that created immediately (127.5±89.4 mm(3) vs 51.0±34.9 mm(3), p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The patency rate of sidewall aneurysms in rabbits is high. The aneurysm keeps growing for at least 3 weeks after creation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Research Laboratory, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
authors.forename: Yong Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Tai
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tieu
authors.forename: David F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Kallmes
mesh_terms: D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D011817:Rabbits; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000502:physiology