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Updated: Jul 14, 2026
Porcine Model of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: November 21, 2019
Pancreatic injury after thoracoabdominal aortic occlusion in a porcine model
John C Papakostas1, Ioannis K Toumpoulis, Lina S Pappa
1Department of Surgery-Vascular Surgery Unit, Medical School, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece.
Background:
The aim of this study was to investigate pancreatic injury after 45 min of thoracoabdominal aortic occlusion in a porcine model.
Methods:
Twenty-four pigs were used. Six pigs underwent sham operation and 18 intravascular balloon thoracoabdominal aortic occlusions for 45 min. The animals were randomly killed at 12, 48 and 120 h after reperfusion. After killing, all pancreata were examined macroscopically for any signs of acute pancreatitis, whereas gland specimens were harvested for histological study to evaluate pancreatic injury (haematoxylin and eosin staining) and acinar cell apoptosis (Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated dUTP Nick-End Labelling staining).
Results:
Pancreatic injury severity score was mildly increased in terms of oedematous features at 12 h after reperfusion, but normalized to sham levels by the second day and thereafter. Necrotic injury was not statistically significant at any time point. Acinar cell apoptotic index was mildly increased at 12 and 48 h, but showed a tendency to decrease towards sham levels by the fifth day. One animal developed acute pancreatitis.
Conclusion:
Acute pancreatitis is unlikely to occur after 45 min of thoracoabdominal aortic occlusion. However, an early, mild oedematous and apoptotic injury that occurs subclinically seems to be a constant event. This injury might have clinical significance when combined with pre-existent pancreatic pathologies.
