Creation of aortic dissection model in swine

The use of mongrel dogs for experimental purposes was recently restricted and this report presents the experience of creating an aortic dissection model in swine. All the swine in group 1 were anesthetized without pentobarbital and the descending aorta was side-clamped during the creation of the aortic dissection. The false lumen of the completed dissection was patent in the long term despite not having the anchoring suture that the previous canine model required to stabilize the opening of the entry tear. All the swine anesthetized with pentobarbital (ie, group 2) died of heart failure either during cross-clamping of the descending aorta or postoperative aortography. In conclusion, creation of a thoracic aortic dissection is possible in swine, but cross-clamping of the thoracic descending aorta and pentobarbital anesthesia should be avoided.