Pl. Faries et al., AN EXPERIMENTAL-MODEL FOR THE ACUTE AND CHRONIC EVALUATION OF INTRA-ANEURYSMAL PRESSURE, Journal of endovascular surgery, 4(3), 1997, pp. 290-297
Purpose: To develop an animal model for the acute and chronic monitori
ng of pressure within abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) to be treated
with endovascular grafts. Methods: A strain-gauge pressure transducer
was placed within an AAA created from a prosthetic vascular graft. Pro
sthetic aneurysms were implanted into If canine infrarenal aortas. The
intra-aneurysmal pressure was monitored and correlated with noninvasi
ve forelimb sphygmomanometry for 2 weeks. After this time, an intravas
cular manometer catheter was passed into the aneurysm. Simultaneous pr
essure measurements were obtained using the implanted strain-gauge pre
ssure transducer, the manometer catheter, and the forelimb sphygmomano
meter. Angiography was performed to assess intraluminal morphology, an
eurysm anastomoses, and adjoining aortic vessels. In addition, two con
trol animals underwent intra-aneurysmal pressure monitoring after stan
dard surgical aneurysm repair. Results: There was excellent correlatio
n (r = 0.97) between the pressure measurements obtained with the impla
nted strain-gauge pressure transducer and the intravascular manometer.
Close correlation was also observed between the implanted strain-gaug
e transducer and the forelimb sphygmomanometer (r = 0.88) during postp
rocedural monitoring. Intra-aneurysmal pressure was lowered dramatical
ly by surgical exclusion (aneurysm: 15/5 +/- 7/4 mmHg; systemic: 124/6
6 +/- 34/17 mmHg; p < 0.001). The prosthetic aneurysms were successful
ly imaged with angiography. Conclusions: This animal model provides an
accurate and reproducible means for measuring intra-aneurysmal pressu
re an an acute and chronic basis. It may be possible to use this model
in the assessment of endovascular devices to determine their efficacy
in reducing intra-aneurysmal pressure. Evaluation of complications as
sociated with their use, such as patent aneurysm side branches, perigr
aft channels, and perianastomotic reflux, may also be possible.