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Updated: Nov 4, 2025
Author Spotlight: Development of a Minimally Invasive Large-Animal Model for Reliable and Reproducible Cardiovascular Research
Published on: October 20, 2023
A technique for creating an experimental type Ia endoleak model in the thoracic aorta of swine
Tomohiro Takano1, Yoshiaki Katada2, Naoki Komaki3
1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan. tkn-tomo@fmu.ac.jp.
Purpose:
This study aimed to create an animal model of type Ia endoleak that creates persistent problems after thoracic endovascular aortic repair.
Materials And Methods:
In six swine, thoracic aortic aneurysms were created using the harvested jugular vein. We created a type Ia endoleak using a composite stent-graft comprising the first stent-graft (reverse-tapered: thicker part, 16 mm; thinner part, 10 mm) and the second stent-graft (tapered: thicker part, 18-20 mm; thinner part, 16 mm). This double-component stent-graft was deployed in the abdominal aorta and then moved upward to the proximal entry site of the thoracic aneurysm using the inflated balloon for precise positioning. After the surgical procedure and on postoperative day 8, aortography was performed to detect residual endoleak, and then the swine were euthanized.
Results:
A stable aneurysm (mean size of all aneurysms, 16.8 ± 1.72 mm × 11.8 ± 2.32 mm) and type Ia endoleak were successfully observed in all swine. A single stent-graft was sufficient in one of the six swine.
Conclusion:
A novel technique to create a type Ia endoleak model can be successfully developed in swine.
