title: The Helsinki rat microsurgical sidewall aneurysm model.
abstract: Experimental saccular aneurysm models are necessary for testing novel surgical and endovascular treatment options and devices before they are introduced into clinical practice. Furthermore, experimental models are needed to elucidate the complex aneurysm biology leading to rupture of saccular aneurysms. Several different kinds of experimental models for saccular aneurysms have been established in different species. Many of them, however, require special skills, expensive equipment, or special environments, which limits their widespread use. A simple, robust, and inexpensive experimental model is needed as a standardized tool that can be used in a standardized manner in various institutions. The microsurgical rat abdominal aortic sidewall aneurysm model combines the possibility to study both novel endovascular treatment strategies and the molecular basis of aneurysm biology in a standardized and inexpensive manner. Standardized grafts by means of shape, size, and geometry are harvested from a donor rat's descending thoracic aorta and then transplanted to a syngenic recipient rat. The aneurysms are sutured end-to-side with continuous or interrupted 9-0 nylon sutures to the infrarenal abdominal aorta. We present step-by-step procedural instructions, information on necessary equipment, and discuss important anatomical and surgical details for successful microsurgical creation of an abdominal aortic sidewall aneurysm in the rat.
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Serge
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marbacher
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marjamaa
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Essam
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Abdelhameed
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Juha
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernesniemi
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Niemelä
authors.affiliation: Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; juhana.frosen@hus.fi.
authors.forename: Juhana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frösen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar