University of Berne

8 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Medicine

Microsurgical Venous Pouch Arterial-Bifurcation Aneurysms in the Rabbit Model: Technical Aspects

Camillo Sherif^*1,2,3, Javier Fandino^*2,4, Salome Erhardt^2,4, Antonio di Ieva⁵, Monika Killer⁶, Guenther Kleinpeter¹, Serge Marbacher^2,4

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital Rudolfstiftung, ²Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ³Cerebrovascular Research Group, Department of Biomedical Research, Medical University of Vienna, ⁴Cerebrovascular Research Group, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University of Berne, ⁵Centre for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Department of Systematic Anatomy, Medical University of Vienna, ⁶Department of Neurology, Paracelsus University Salzburg

An optimized technique for the microsurgical creation of arterial bifurcation aneurysms mimicking bifurcation human cerebral aneurysms is described. A venous pouch is sutured into an artificially created true bifurcation of both common carotid arteries. Facilitated microsurgical techniques and aggressive postoperative anticoagulation and analgesia lead to minimized morbidity rates and high aneurysm patency rates.

Medicine

The Helsinki Rat Microsurgical Sidewall Aneurysm Model

Serge Marbacher¹, Johan Marjamaa¹, Essam Abdelhameed¹, Juha Hernesniemi¹, Mika Niemelä¹, Juhana Frösen¹

¹Neurosurgery Research Group, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

Microsurgical sidewall aneurysms in rats are created by end-to-side anastomosis of an aortic graft to the abdominal aorta. We present step-by-step instructions and discuss anatomical and surgical details for successful experimental saccular aneurysm creation.

Medicine

The Rabbit Blood-shunt Model for the Study of Acute and Late Sequelae of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: Technical Aspects

Lukas Andereggen^3,4,5, Volker Neuschmelting^1,6, Michael von Gunten⁷, Hans Rudolf Widmer⁵, Jukka Takala¹, Stephan M. Jakob¹, Javier Fandino^1,2, Serge Marbacher^1,2

¹Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University and Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), ²Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ³Laboratories for Neuroscience Research in Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, ⁴Harvard Medical School, Boston Children's Hospital, ⁵Department of Neurosurgery, University and Bern University Hospital (Inselspital), ⁶Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Cologne, ⁷Institute of Pathology, Länggasse Bern

The experimental intracranial pressure-controlled blood shunt subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) model in the rabbit combines the standard procedures — subclavian artery cannulation and transcutaneous cisterna magna puncture, which enables close mimicking of human pathophysiological conditions after SAH. We present step-by-step instructions and discuss key surgical points for successful experimental SAH creation.

Neuroscience

Biodegradable Magnesium Stent Treatment of Saccular Aneurysms in a Rat Model - Introduction of the Surgical Technique

Edin Nevzati^1,2, Jeannine Rey², Daniel Coluccia^1,2, Donato D'Alonzo^1,2, Basil Grüter^1,2, Luca Remonda³, Javier Fandino^1,2, Serge Marbacher^1,2

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ²Neuro Lab, Research Group for Experimental Neurosurgery and Neurocritical Care, Department of Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital and University of Bern, ³Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Kantonsspital Aarau

Reproducable experimental animal models are needed for the testing of novel embolization materials, which have been designed to treat endovascular occlusion of intracranial aneurysms (IA). The present study aims to develop a safe and standardized surgical technique for stent assisted embolization of saccular aneurysms in a rat animal model.

Neuroscience

Fluorescence Angiography for Evaluation of Aneurysm Perfusion and Parent Artery Patency in Rat and Rabbit Aneurysm Models

Fabio Strange^1,2, Sivani Sivanrupan², Basil E. Gruter^1,2, Jeannine Rey², Dominik Taeschler², Javier Fandino^1,2, Serge Marbacher^1,2

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ²Cerebrovascular Research Group, Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern

We present a protocol to efficiently evaluate aneurysm perfusion and vessel patency of sidewall aneurysm in rats and rabbits, using fluorescein-based fluorescence video angiography (FVA). With a positive predictive value of 92.6%, it is a simple but very effective and economical method with no special equipment required.

Neuroscience

Arterial Pouch Microsurgical Bifurcation Aneurysm Model in the Rabbit

Stefan Wanderer^1,2, Claudia Waltenspuel², Basil E. Grüter^1,2, Fabio Strange^1,2, Sivani Sivanrupan², Luca Remonda³, Hans Rudolf Widmer⁴, Daniela Casoni⁵, Lukas Andereggen^1,2, Javier Fandino^1,2, Serge Marbacher^1,2

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ²Cerebrovascular Research Group, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, ³Division of Neuroradiology, Department of Radiology, Kantonsspital Aarau, ⁴Department of Neurosurgery, Neurocenter and Regenerative Neuroscience Cluster, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, ⁵Department for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern

Developing and testing endovascular devices for intracranial aneurysm treatment is still of great importance. Most aneurysm models used today miss either the important characteristics of an arterial degenerated wall or the hemodynamics of a true bifurcation. Therefore, we aimed to design a novel arterial pouch bifurcation model in rabbits.

Medicine

Creation of Two Saccular Elastase-Digested Aneurysms with Different Hemodynamics in One Rabbit

Gwendoline Boillat^1,2, Tim Franssen², Basil Grüter^1,2, Stefan Wanderer^1,2, Kristina Catalano², Daniela Casoni³, Lukas Andereggen^1,2, Serge Marbacher^1,2

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ²Cerebrovascular Research Group, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, ³Experimental Surgery Facility, Department for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern

This protocol describes the steps for the creation of a rabbit model with two elastase-digested aneurysms with different hemodynamics (stump and bifurcation constellation). This allows the testing of novel endovascular devices in aneurysms with different angioarchitecture and hemodynamic conditions within a single animal.

Neuroscience

Using a Cell-Tracer Injection to Investigate the Origin of Neointima-Forming Cells in a Rat Saccular Side Wall Model

Stefan Wanderer^*1,2, Basil E. Grüter^*1,2, Jeannine Kümin^1,2, Gwendoline Boillat^1,2, Sivani Sivanrupan², Kristina Catalano^1,2, Michael von Gunten³, Hans Rudolf Widmer⁴, Serge Marbacher^1,2,5, Lukas Andereggen^1,2,5

¹Department of Neurosurgery, Kantonsspital Aarau, ²Cerebrovascular Research Group, Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, ³Institute of Pathology Laenggasse, ⁴Department of Neurosurgery, Neurocenter and Regenerative Neuroscience Cluster, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, ⁵Faculty of Medicine, University of Bern

We performed a one-point, lipophilic cell-tracer injection to track endothelial cells, followed by an arteriotomy and suturing of sidewall aneurysms on the abdominal rat aorta. Neointima formation seemed dependent on the parent artery in decellularized aneurysms and was promoted by the recruitment from aneurysm wall cells in vital cell-rich walls.