Microsurgical cerebral aneurysm training porcine model

The authors developed a simple reproducible technique for aneurysm creation and adapted it to mimic intracranial dissection conditions using glue application as a pseudo-arachnoid type layer. Ten 1-2-month-old healthy domestic swine were employed under general anesthesia. A novel technique for bifurcation aneurysm creation was developed using two arteries and a vein. After aneurysm creation, diluted sulfuric acid was applied on the dome with a micropipette to increase aneurysm fragility in selected zones. The surgical field was then dried and contact glue was applied around the vascular complex in a circular manner so as to emulate arachnoidal connection fibers. Microsurgical dissection of the aneurysm and surrounding vessels was performed by delicately removing the adhesive substance. Diverse aneurysm clipping techniques, emergency rupture situations and vascular reconstruction procedures were trained. Twenty-two aneurysms were created at several vascular sites, one aneurysm dome ruptured during application of sulfuric acid, two aneurysm models were proved to be thrombosed, two aneurysms ruptured during the dissection and no intraoperative deaths occurred. All aneurysms were clipped in an acceptable manner. This bifurcation aneurysm model provides a novel training system to be used not only by neurosurgeons but also by neurovascular interventionists.