Serial angiography in an elastase-induced aneurysm model in rabbits: evidence for progressive aneurysm enlargement after creation.

Abstract

Elastase incubation and vessel ligation results in patent aneurysmally dilated arterial segments at the origin of the right CCA in rabbits. These aneurysms show progressive increases in diameter over time, finally stabilizing at approximately 1 month. Our data, which show early progressive aneurysm enlargement, suggest that this model may be used for the study of systemic therapies aimed at diminishing aneurysm rest regrowth and also indicate that embolization of these model aneurysms should be delayed at least 21 days after aneurysm creation.