Microsurgically induced aneurysm models in rats, Part II: clipping, shrinking and micro-Doppler sonography.

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Medical Education
• Experimental Models

Background:

• Adapting to evolving aneurysm treatment strategies necessitates innovative training methods.
• Development of experimental aneurysm models is crucial for surgical skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish and evaluate three distinct experimental aneurysm models for teaching clipping, microvascular Doppler sonography, and shrinking techniques.
• To provide a reproducible platform for simulating complex aneurysm treatment procedures.

Main Methods:

• Creation of 39 microaneurysms in 22 animals across carotid, femoral, and iliac arteries.
• Application of neurosurgical clipping, shrinking techniques, and microvascular Doppler sonography (20-MHz microprobe) for pre- and post-intervention assessment.
• Iterative optimization of clip placement through multiple applications and varied techniques.

Main Results:

• Successful clipping of all created aneurysms, with a mean procedure time of 8:51+/-4:41 minutes.
• Aneurysm clip repositioning occurred in 41% of cases, guided by Doppler findings in 36%.
• Complications included relevant stenosis (25.7%), incomplete occlusion (10.2%), vasospasm (1 case), and three instances of rupture/bleeding.

Conclusions:

• Surgically induced aneurysms in rats serve as a viable model for simulating aneurysm treatment.
• The models facilitate hands-on training in clipping, shrinking, and micro-Doppler sonography.
• This approach enhances surgical education by allowing practice of multiple techniques and complication management.