Developing an Experimental Aneurysm Model in a Rabbit Using an Elastase-Treated Vessel Pouch

Abstract

Source: Wanderer, S., et al. Arterial Pouch Microsurgical Bifurcation Aneurysm Model in the Rabbit. J. Vis. Exp. (2020)

This video demonstrates the creation of an experimental aneurysm model in a rabbit using an elastase-treated vessel pouch. After excising a segment of the right CCA, the pouch is treated with elastase, then sutured to the left CCA to restore blood flow. The resulting stress on the weakened pouch walls induces aneurysm formation.

Protocol

All procedures involving animal models have been reviewed by the local institutional animal care committee and the JoVE veterinary review board.

NOTE: House all animals at a room temperature of 22‒24 Celsius (°C) and maintain a 12-hour (h) light/dark cycle. Provide free access to water, pellet, and ad libitum hay diet every time. Statistical analyses were performed using the non-parametric Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney-U test. A probability value (p) of ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Figure 1: Initial operative step.

Initial operative step, depicting the left carotid artery (white arrow), vagal nerve (black arrow) (

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
3-0 resorbable suture	Ethicon Inc., USA	VCP428G
4-0 non-absorbable suture	B. Braun, Germany	G0762563
6-0 non-absorbable suture	B. Braun, Germany	C0766070
9-0 non-absorbable suture	B. Braun, Germany	G1111140
Adrenaline	Amino AG	1445419	any generic
Amiodarone	Helvepharm AG	5078567	any generic
Anesthesia machine	Dräger		any other
Aspirin	Sanofi-Aventis (Suisse) SA	622693	any generic
Atropine	Labatec Pharma SA	6577083	any generic
Bandpass filter blue	Thorlabs	FD1B	any other
Bandpass filter green	Thorlabs	FGV9	any other
Bipolar forceps			any other
Bicycle spotlight			any other
Biemer vessel clip (2 x)	B. Braun Medical AG, Aesculap, Switzerland	FD560R	temporary
Bispectral index (neonatal)			any other
Blood pressure cuff (neonatal)			any other
Clamoxyl	GlaxoSmithKline AG	758808	any generic
Dexmedetomidine	Ever Pharma	136740-1	any generic
Electrocardiogram electrodes			any other
Elastase	Sigma Aldrich	45125	any generic
Ephedrine	Amino AG	1435734	any generic
Esmolol	OrPha Swiss GmbH	3284044	any generic
Fentanyl (intravenous use)	Janssen-Cilag AG	98683	any generic
Fentanyl (transdermal)	Mepha Pharma AG	4008286	any generic
Fluoresceine	Curatis AG	5030376	any generic
Fragmin	Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH	1906725	any generic
Glyco			any generic
Heating pad			any other
Isotonic sodium chloride solution (0.9%)	Fresenius KABI	336769	any generic
Ketamine	Pfizer	342261	any generic
Laboratory shaker	Stuart	SRT6	any other
Lidocaine	Streuli Pharma AG	747466	any generic
Longuettes			any other
Metacam	Boehringer Ingelheim	P7626406	any generic
Methadone	Streuli Pharma AG	1084546	any generic
Microtubes			any other
Micro needle holder			any other
Midazolam	Accord Healthcare AG	7752484	any generic
Needle holder			any other
O2-Face mask			any other
Operation microscope	Wild Heerbrugg		any other
Papaverine	Bichsel		any generic
Prilocaine-lidocaine creme	Emla		any generic
Propofol	B. Braun Medical AG, Switzerland		any generic
Pulse oxymeter			any generic
Rectal temperature probe (neonatal)			any other
Ropivacaine	Aspen Pharma Schweiz GmbH	1882249	any generic
Scalpell	Swann-Morton	210	any other
Small animal shaver			any other
Smartphone			any other
Soft tissue forceps			any other
Soft tissue spreader			any other
Stainless steel sponge bowls			any other
Sterile micro swabs			any other
Stethoscope			any other
Straight and curved micro-forceps			any other
Straight and curved micro-scissors			any other
Straight and curved forceps			any other
Surgery drape			any other
Surgical scissors			any other
Syringes 1 ml, 2ml and 5 ml			any other
Tris-Buffer	Sigma Aldrich	93302	any generic
Vascular clip applicator	B. Braun, Germany	FT495T
Vein and arterial catheter 22 G			any generic
Vitarubin	Streuli Pharma AG	6847559	any generic
Yasargil titan standard clip (2 x)	B. Braun Medical AG, Aesculap, Switzerland	FT242T	temporary