Novel Experimental Technique to Create Size-Controlled Retroperitoneal Bleeding in the Infrarenal Aorta of Anesthetized Pigs

Objective Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) with a contained retroperitoneal hematoma is potentially fatal. Physiological studies are difficult to perform in patients suffering from life-threatening conditions such as rAAA. A translational model of the condition is therefore needed. The aim was to develop and validate an endovascular animal model for retroperitoneal bleeding of the abdominal aorta with contained hematoma. Methods In anesthetized pigs, a puncture hole was made in the posterolateral portion of the infrarenal aorta by an Outback re-entry catheter device. The hole was gradually enlarged using angioplasty balloons to a specific diameter of either 4 mm ( n = 6), 6 mm ( n = 7), or 8 mm ( n = 6). Onset of bleeding was verified by angiography and macroscopically examined on completion of the experiments. Survival up to 180 min was the primary outcome. Hemodynamic and metabolic markers in arterial blood were secondary outcomes. Results Aortic injury with a contained retroperitoneal hematoma was achieved in all animals. Survival rate at 180 min after onset of bleeding was higher in the 4 mm group compared to the 6 mm ( P = 0.021) and 8 mm groups ( P = 0.002), but not when comparing the 6 mm and 8 mm groups. Systemic hypotension, arterial acidosis, and lactatemia were provoked in the 6 mm and 8 mm groups but not in the 4 mm group. Conclusions A porcine model for a controlled contained left posterolateral retroperitoneal bleeding was created using endovascular methods and validated. This model makes it possible to study the pathophysiology of a retroperitoneal hematoma.