Experimental intracoronary stenting: comprehensive experience in a porcine model

Abstract

Appropriate animal models for intracoronary stenting are most important for improving understanding of the pathophysiology of acute occlusion and long-term re-stenosis, which currently limits the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in humans. Since the anatomy and physiology of swine coronary arteries closely resemble those of humans, the procine model should be ideal for testing of stents. This is a comprehensive report on an experimental set-up in pigs, communicating in detail the necessary techniques as well as some modifications facilitating safe intra coronary stent placement and successful follow-up studies for weeks or months. Stent procedure is performed in mechanically ventilated and haemodynamically monitored animals under balanced anaesthesia. Intracoronary application of flow wires allows the assessment of local flow conditions, flow properties and coronary flow reserve. Real-time intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) provides detailed information on coronary morphology and enables the appropriate sizing of the coronary lumen. From our own experience, we like to propose that the use of the porcine model has the potential to gain new insights into the pathophysiology of intracoronary stent placement-associated complications and allows for the study of modifications in techniques and materials, and the development of novel pharmacological therapeutic strategies.

Late Positive Remodeling and Late Lumen Gain Contribute to Vascular Restoration by a Non-Drug Eluting Bioresorbable Scaffold

“…The reference arterial segments of swine frequently undergo spasm proximal and distal to the freshly placed stent. 9 …”

Catalytic Oligodeoxynucleotides Define a Key Regulatory Role for Early Growth Response Factor-1 in the Porcine Model of Coronary In-Stent Restenosis

“…We limited total delivery balloon inflation time to a minimum (90 seconds), which is similar or less than the times used in analogous studies. 10,22 Our use of intracoronary nitroglycerine, 20 bretylium, 43 heparin monitoring and additional bolus dosing based on activated clotting time (ACT) measurements, 20 and pretreatment with clopidogrel in addition to aspirin 44 likely contributed to lowered morbidity in relation to delivery. The morbidity rates in the present study are comparable to or lower than those described in other published studies.…”

“…The morbidity rates in the present study are comparable to or lower than those described in other published studies. 20,45 The amount of DNAzyme (1000 g) used in the present study was based on an ex vivo dose-escalation study in which FITC-labeled DNAzyme was delivered into pig coronary artery wall using the transport catheter. Histological examination of the cross-sections after in vivo delivery of 1000 g of FITC-DNAzyme by fluorescence microscopy revealed extensive localization within the intima ( Figure 6B).…”

Evaluation of six candidate genes for dilated cardiomyopathy in Irish wolfhounds

“…These genotyped dogs belonged to 13 families with one to three generations and family sizes from two to 21. The diagnosis of DCM in IWs was based on veterinary examinations described elsewhere 4 …”