AUTHOR=Zhang Yang , He Yu , Tang ChaoJie , Wu YuFan , Gu Yi , Gu BinXian , Chen Li , Gao WenWei , Zhou ZhiGuo , Qi YouKe , Mao FaJiang , Sun YongNing , Wang Wu 

TITLE=An Improved Surgical Technique to Increase Neck Width of Elastase-Induced Aneurysm Model in Rabbits: A Prospective Study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Neurology

VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neurology/articles/10.3389/fneur.2022.889140

DOI=10.3389/fneur.2022.889140

ISSN=1664-2295

ABSTRACT=Background
Rabbit elastase-induced aneurysms have widely been used to test various endovascular materials over the past two decades. However, wide-necked aneurysms cannot be stably constructed.
Objective
The purpose of the study was to increase neck width of elastase-induced aneurysm model in rabbits via an improved surgical technique with two temporary clips.
Materials and methods
Fifty-four elastase-induced aneurysms in rabbits were successfully created. Group 1 (n=34) composed cases in which two temporary aneurysm clips were placed closely medially and laterally to the origin of right common carotid artery (RCCA), respectively. Group 2 (n=20) included cases in which a single temporary aneurysm clip was placed crossed the origin of RCCA. Digital subtraction angiography was performed before and immediately after elastase incubation and three weeks later. The diameter of the origin of RCCA before and immediately after elastase incubation and aneurysm sizes of two groups were measured and compared. Moreover, the correlation analysis was performed between the diameter of the origin of RCCA immediately after elastase incubation and aneurysm neck width.
Results
The mean aneurysm neck and dome width of group 1 was both significantly larger than that of group 2 (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). Moreover, the proportion of wide-necked aneurysms (neck width ≥4 mm) in group 1 was significantly larger than that in group 2 (P = 0.004) and the mean D/N of group 1 was smaller than that of group 2 (P = 0.008). Furthermore, there was positive correlation between the diameter of the origin of RCCA immediately after elastase incubation and aneurysm neck width.
Conclusions
The improved surgical technique with two temporary clips, focusing on the direct contact of elastase with the origin of RCCA, could increase the neck width of elastase-induced aneurysm models in rabbits.