Abstract
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.
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