Arterial saccular aneurysm model in the rabbit.

Saccular aneurysms arising from the common carotid artery in the neck at the origin of the internal carotid artery were created in male rabbits using the stump of a ligated external carotid artery. These stumps were intraluminally perfused with varying concentrations of porcine pancreatic elastase for 45 minutes via a microcatheter introduced into the femoral artery. The aneurysms were allowed to mature for 2 to 12 weeks. Gross examination and histologic studies confirmed the presence of an aneurysm in all 15 experiments. Ninety-two percent (12 of 13) of the aneurysms studied by postoperative angiography were shown to be angiographically patent: 40% of all aneurysms were noted to be patent at harvest; and the remainder showed evidence of intraluminal thrombus. On histologic examination, all aneurysms showed complete loss of elastic lamina without evidence of fibrosis or scarring.