ABSTRACT
In order to study the treatment of aneurysms, the technique of making experimental aneurysms in laboratory animals must be established. In our study, to examine the feasibility of making experimental aneurysm and selective angiography on the common carotid artery in rabbits and to determine the size of experimental aneurysm after surgery, saccular aneurysms were fashioned on the right common carotid artery in 17 rabbits using a vein pouch technique. Selective angiography of the common carotid artery was performed immediately after surgery, and at 1 week, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after surgery. Also, histological changes in the aneurysms were observed. In 16 rabbits with established successful experimental aneurysm, no differences were found in diet intake and behavior before and after surgery. The patency of the carotid artery was confirmed by selective angiography. The average size of the aneurysm immediately after surgery was similar to that of 1 week postoperatively in selective angiography, however it increased with time at 4weeks and 8 weeks. Histologically, infiltration of inflammatory cells and hemorrhage were found at the junction of the carotid artery and the vein pouch at 1 week, which disappeared at 4 weeks and 8 weeks. This study suggests experimental saccular aneurysm using the vein pouch technique might form aneurysms similar to that of the human in its properties such as increment of size, and selective angiography might be suitable for assessment of experimental aneurysm. Therefore, this animal model may be suitable for investigating new treatment methodologies for human aneurysms.
ABSTRACT
Increased or decreased pulmonary blood flow (PBF) and an increased pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), represent common and important change in pulmonary hemodynamics. In this study, we constructed 3 hemodynamic models in 5 dogs, that is, an increased and a decreased PBF model, and an increased PVR model. A CT perfusion scan was performed in each hemodynamic model. Perfusion parameters including blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), mean transit time (MTT), and maximal slope (MS) were calculated automatically by specialized software and analyzed for changes according to hemodynamic status. In terms of the normal state, blood flow was affected by gravity and dependent area showed higher BF and BV and lower MS and MTT than the non-dependent area. The decreased PBF model showed a significant increase in BF and MS (p=0.046, 0.005) but no significant change in BV (p > 0.05), and a slight elongation of MTT (p > 0.05) versus the normal state. The increased PBF model showed a slightly increased BV and a slightly decreased MTT (p > 0.05). The increased PVR model showed significant reduction in BF, BV, and MS (p < 0.000, 0.007, 0.000) and a slight increase in MTT, but without statistical significance (p > 0.05). However, it was noticeable that the distribution of MTT with respect to gravity in the normal lung was completely reversed in the increased PVR model. In conclusion, based on our understanding of perfusion characteristic in normal state, abnormal regional hemodynamic changes in the lung can be detected and evaluated. Predicting changes in pulmonary vascular resistance should be possible by a thorough analysis of CT perfusion parameters.
