title: Treatment of a canine carotid artery aneurysm model with a biodegradable nanofiber-covered stent: a prospective pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of a biodegradable nanofiber-covered stent (BDNCS) in the treatment of a canine carotid artery aneurysm.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventeen beagle dogs, each with one lateral saccular aneurysm created using a venous pouch, were selected to test the BDNCS. The BDNCS consists of three parts: A bare stent, a biodegradable nanofiber membrane, and a balloon catheter. The bare stent was sculpted by a laser from a cobalt chromium superalloy, and the biodegradable nanofiber membrane was constructed from polylactic acid (PLA) and polycaprolactone [PCL, P (LLA-CL)] by the electro-spinning method. The biodegradable nanofiber stent was premounted on a balloon catheter to form a BDNCS. Angiographic assessments were categorized as complete or incomplete occlusion. Data regarding technical success, initial and final angiographic results, mortality and morbidity were collected, and follow-up was performed at 1 and 3 months after the procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  BDNCS placement was successful in 17 canines with 17 aneurysms. The initial angiographies showed that a complete occlusion was achieved in 13 canines (76.5%) and an incomplete occlusion in 4 (23.5%). One canine died 1 week later. The angiographies obtained at 3-month follow-up exhibited complete occlusion in 14 canines (87.5%) and an incomplete occlusion in 2 canines, with mild in-stent stenosis in 5 canines.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results suggest that BDNCS may be a feasible approach for aneurysm occlusion, although the occurrence of mild in-stent stenosis was relatively high. Longer-term follow-up investigations are needed to validate these findings.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, The Sixth Affiliated People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Bo
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Xiu-Ling
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Ming-Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bin-Xian
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Wu
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yong-Dong
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002533:Cerebral Angiography; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004285:Dogs; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000592:standards*; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D002532:Intracranial Aneurysm / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D057139:Nanofibers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies