Purpose: To establish a reproducible porcine model of ascending aortic aneurysm (AsAA).
Methods: We created an AsAA in twelve domestic pigs using a cover-then-cut method, stitching a glutaraldehyde tanned bovine pericardial patch onto the anterolateral aortic wall, then cutting off aortic wall tissue within the patch, and closing the incision in the patch.
Results: The AsAA creation was completed successfully in 11 out of the 12 pigs (91.7%). The mean maximal diameter of the ascending aorta increased significantly by 1.77 times, immediately after the operation (p < 0.05). Significantly continuous expansion of the aneurysm was observed during the follow up period, to 48.9 ± 1.80 mm at 3 months and 50.3 ± 2.25 mm at 6 months (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: This porcine model of AsAA, created using a repeatable cover-then-cut method, represents a reproducible platform for studying and training, which could contribute to the development of new feasible endovascular treatments of AsAAs.
Keywords: Animal models; Ascending aortic aneurysm; Pericardium; Swine.