Abstract
This report describes an occlusive canine iliac artery model for use in experimental angioplasty procedures. Lesions were induced by overdistending and breaking the internal elastic lamina of the artery and implanting a 2-cm long occlusive collagen plug. The collagen plug diameter was varied to fit the iliac artery and caused immediate bilateral iliac occlusions. Histology of the lesions at 9 and 14 days (n= 2) showed that the lumen was filled with a mixture of fresh thrombus and collagen pad material (more collagen than thrombus) with focal disruptions of the internal elastic lamina. At 36 days (n= 2) the lumen was obliterated with a mixture of organizing thrombus and collagen pad material (more organizing thrombus than collagen). At 60 (n= 4) and 80 (n=8) days the collagen pad had been completely replaced with organizing thrombus consisting of collagen fibers and hemosiderinladen macrophages with persistent focal disruptions of the internal elastic lamina. These initial data demonstrate the ability to create fibrotic arterial occlusions in as short a time as 60 days and to provide a practical model to study methods for treating localized peripheral vascular occlusive disease.