Comprehensive training of rat abdominal aorta and common iliac artery for neurosurgical microvascular anastomosis / 中国脑血管病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To establish an animal model suitable for neurosurgeons for the comprehensive training of microvascular anastomosis using rat abdominal aorta and common iliac artery. Methods Twelve adult SD rats were selected,they were generally anesthetized and laparotomized.The abdominal aortas and bilateral common iliac arteries were exposed and fully separated.The lengths and diameters of abdominal aortas and common iliac arteries of each segment were measured.The end-to-end anastomosis were performed choosing the main trunk of the abdominal aorta without a branching artery and longer segment.The unilateral common iliac artery and the sacral median artery were used for end-to-side anastomosis.The bilateral common iliac arteries were used for end-to-side and side-to-side anastomosis.The micro Doppler ultrasound probe was used to detect the blood flow patency of each anastomotic stoma. Results Anatomical separation of the abdominal aortas and the common iliac arteries was successfully performed in 12 SD rats.Each rat could provide 4 vascular anastomosis exercises.The length of abdomen aorta trunk was 15.6 ± 2.5 mm and the diameter was 1.6 ±0.2 mm between the lower left renal artery and right iliolumbar artery.The side-to-side anastomosis was performed.The mean diameter of the median sacral arteries was 0.80 ±0.08 mm.After the fish mouth-like cutting,the end-to-side anastomosis of the right common iliac arteries were conducted.The lenth of left common iliac artery was 9.0 ± 1.5 mm,the diameter was 1.0 ± 0.1 mm,and was cut off at its origin and then the end-to-side anastomosis of the right common iliac arteries were conducted.After end-to-side anastomosis of bilateral common iliac arteries,its distal segment was arranged in parallel with a length of 5.1 ± 0.3 mm,and then the side-to-side anastomosis could be conducted. Conclusions The rat abdominal aorta and iliac artery model can be comprehensively used to simulate the commonly used neurosurgery bypass graft.It is suitable for neurosurgeons with a certain microsurgical basis to conduct a preliminary vascular anastomosis training.