Digital subtraction and conventional blood flow studies in porcine experimental aneurysms

Flow studies are important to understanding pathogenesis and treatment of cerebral aneurysms, but have not been possible in the clinical setting. We used experimental aneurysms established in and then removed from pigs to compare and correlate flow studies by high-speed video photography of introduced particles and by clinically applicable digital subtraction angiography. Venous pouches were used to create aneurysms in incised common carotid arteries. After aneurysms and parent arteries were removed, specimens were rendered translucent with solvents so they could be studied by video photography of introduced plastic particles in addition to digital subtraction angiography with iodinated contrast material. Regions of interest were studied individually. Mean transit time for contrast in the preparation correlated with videographically measured particle flow velocity (r = 0.616). Digital subtraction angiography should be useful in evaluation of flow in the clinical assessment and treatment of cerebral aneurysms, such as in endovascular therapy.