Figure 1.

Representative diagrams to illustrate the method used for creating the experimental dissections. (A) In a swine common carotid artery, a small incision was made in the adventitia and media layers under the microscope. (B) The intima was dissected from the media by using a detacher that was passed through the adventitia and media incisions. (C) The intima was also dissected from the media using balloon dilation. (D) The adventitia and media incisions were tightly closed, and a dissection plane was made between the intima and media layer.