A canine model of controlled thrombotic vascular occlusion

The authors developed a reproducible canine model of arterial thrombotic occlusion. Operative isolation and occlusion of the external iliac arteries (EIA) were combined with balloon de-endothelialization and thrombin injection to induce bilateral thrombosis in 13 dogs. After three to nine days, 26 of 26 vessels contained isolated, discrete thrombi. Arterial blood flow reconstituted at the superficial/deep femoral artery bifurcation in 100% of cases, which limited the distal extent of thrombosis. Arterial dimensions measured intraoperatively showed thrombus volumes to be (mean ± SD) 1332.1 ± 243.1 mm³ (right) and 1335.9 ± 246.8 mm³ (left). A 2-mm hot tip probe powered by an Argon laser was used to recanalize the occlusion in four vessels. Thrombo-ablation volumes accomplished by a single pass of the laser probe averaged 172 ± 19.7 mm³ per vessel yielding thrombo-ablation energies between 2.6 and 3.5 J/mm³. Quantification of thrombi and simultaneous monitoring of both occluded segments by aortography as well as the large size of the EIA are advantages of this model, which is recommended for studies of thrombotic vascular occlusive disease.