A Swine Model to Analyze Arterial Structural Changes Induced by Mechanical Thrombectomy

Angiographic Review of the Superficial Cervical Artery in Swine

All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with policies established by the University of California, Los Angeles chancellor's animal research committee. Swine are known to have well-developed SCAs that originate directly from the thyrocervical trunk.^4,5 In the first phase of this study, previously obtained diagnostic angiograms of 40 swine (20 Yorkshire pigs and 20 Yucatan miniature pigs) were randomly selected and reviewed with particular attention to the anatomy of the thyrocervical trunk and the SCA. All 40 angiograms showed well-developed bilateral SCAs (Fig 1). The SCA was seen as a large straight branch projecting superolaterally from the ipsilateral thyrocervical trunk. The mean diameter of the SCA was 2.8 mm (95% CI, 2.6–3.0 mm) at its origin and 2.1 mm (95% CI, 1.9–2.4 mm) near its bifurcation. The mean diameter of the branches distal to its bifurcation was 1.56 mm (95% CI, 1.48–1.64 mm). Given that the outer diameter of the proximal middle cerebral artery in humans was 2.41 ± 0.41 mm⁶ in 1 study and 3.71 mm (range, 2.74–4.92 mm) in another,⁷ the size measurements of the SCA in swine are similar to those of the human middle cerebral artery.

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Fig 1.

Aortogram of a Yucatan miniature pig (anteroposterior view). Bilateral superficial cervical arteries (arrows) and the main branches of the thyrocervical trunk are seen projecting superolaterally, branching into smaller vessels. Arrowheads indicate bilateral common carotid arteries.

Surgical Exploration of the Superficial Cervical Artery in Yorkshire Pigs

In the second phase of the study, a total of 6 SCAs in 3 Yorkshire pigs were surgically explored and detailed anatomic orientation was documented. Each animal was intubated, and general anesthesia was maintained by using isoflurane (1%–3%) during the procedure. A swine was placed in the supine position, and a 20-cm linear skin incision was made along the course of the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Once the sternocleidomastoid muscle was exposed, connective tissue along its posterior aspect was dissected and a 7-cm segment of the artery, including the origin of thyroid artery and bifurcation of the SCA, was exposed.

Occlusion of the Superficial Cervical Artery with Experimental Thrombus

A total of 6 SCAs in 3 Yorkshire swine were surgically exposed in the same manner as described above. An 8F sheath was placed in the right femoral artery, and subsequently an 8F balloon-guiding catheter (Merci; Concentric Medical, Mountain View, California) was placed at the origin of the SCA. Under fluoroscopy, 2 SCAs were occluded by injecting experimental thrombus (thrombin-induced thrombus⁸), and the other 2 were occluded with a different type of experimental thrombus (fibrin-rich thrombus⁹). The detailed preparation process of each type of thrombus has been published elsewhere.^8,9 The size of the prepared thrombus was 5 mm in diameter and 20 mm in length. Two untreated SCAs were harvested before the injection of clot and were used as controls.

Mechanical Thrombectomy by Using the Merci Clot Retriever System

Mechanical thrombectomy of the 4 arteries occluded with experimental thrombus was performed with the Merci clot retriever system (Concentric Medical). The use of extracranial arteries in swine to assess the efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy has been well-established and is described elsewhere.^8,10 Either a V 2.5 Firm or V 3.0 Firm Merci device was selected, depending on the size of the target artery. A total of 11 retrieval attempts were made to achieve the final angiographic results. Three arteries showed recanalization (a Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction score of ≥2) after 2 retrieval attempts, and 1 vessel remained occluded after 5 attempts. The average time to achieve the final angiographic outcome was 46.2 minutes. All of the embolized target vessels, which were surgically exposed, stopped pulsating and became pale/dusky immediately after vessel occlusion (Fig 2A, -B). The microcatheter and thrombectomy devices were observed, under direct visualization, through the transparent wall of the SCA (Fig 2C). The distal branches of the SCA were often significantly stretched during the deployment of the thrombectomy device.

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Fig 2.

A, Photograph of a surgically exposed left superficial cervical artery (left) and its selective angiogram (right). Note that multiple branches of the superficial cervical artery are seen in both the surgical view and the angiogram. B, Intraprocedural photograph (left) and an angiogram (right) of the left superficial cervical artery (postocclusion). The left superficial cervical artery shown in A was occluded with an injected experimental thrombus (left). Pulsation of the artery diminishes significantly after the occlusion, and the artery becomes pale. An angiogram was performed. C, Intraprocedural photograph (left) and an angiogram (right) of the left superficial cervical artery (Merci device deployment). A Merci clot retriever, deployed at the postbifurcation segment of the left superficial cervical artery (open arrow) and a microcatheter (arrow) are seen through the wall of the vessel (left). A fluoroscopic view of the same artery shows the device being deployed and reformed into its original coil shape (right). Behavior of the deployed device can be monitored during the procedure under direct vision.

Harvesting and Histologic Evaluation of Treated Arteries

A segment of the SCA, 5 cm in length, was surgically removed after the endovascular procedure. The harvested samples were photographed and sectioned transversely at 5-mm intervals from distal to proximal. Microscopic analysis of arterial samples showed a well-preserved layered structure of the vessel wall throughout the segment of each harvested artery (Fig 3A).

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Fig 3.

A, Microscopic view of the arterial sample (control group) (hematoxylin-eosin [H&E] staining). A low-magnification view of the harvested arterial sample (left, original magnification ×40) demonstrates well-maintained tissue integrity throughout all layers of the vessel. A magnified view of the same sample (right, original magnification ×100) shows the general histologic characteristics of a small artery. The tunica media, which constitutes most of the arterial wall, has up to 10–12 layers of smooth muscle cells. There is a very thin layer of tunica intima lined by a layer of endothelial cells (arrows). The external elastic lamina is not distinct. The structure is quite similar to that seen in the human intracranial arteries except that the layer of the tunica media is slightly thicker in this model. B, Microscopic view of an artery treated with mechanical thrombectomy (H&E staining). A low-magnification view (left, original magnification ×40) shows the separation of the smooth muscle layers in the tunica media and migration of acute inflammatory cells between the layers (arrowheads). A magnified view of the same arterial sample (right, original magnification ×200) demonstrates aggregated platelets on the surface of the arterial wall (arrows) and acute inflammatory cells migrating into the innermost layers of the tunica media (open arrows). The findings indicate an acute inflammatory reaction induced by the mechanical thrombectomy.

The SCAs that underwent mechanical thrombectomy demonstrated various histologic changes. Aggregated platelets on the surface of the arterial wall and separation of smooth muscle layers within the tunica media were seen. The invasion of acute inflammatory cells, most likely polymorphonuclear leukocytes, into the innermost layers of tunica media was also seen (Fig 3B). This finding indicated an acute inflammatory reaction induced by the mechanical thrombectomy. No large intimal flap or complete dissection of the tunica media was observed.