Refinement of embolic stroke model in rats: Effect of post-embolization anesthesia duration on arterial blood pressure, cerebral edema and mortality.

Background: Injection of a clot into the internal carotid artery is an experimental model of ischemic stroke that is considered to closely mimic embolic stroke in humans. In this model, the common carotid artery typically remains temporarily occluded to permit time for stabilization of the clot in the middle cerebral artery. However, the associated lengthening of the anesthesia duration could affect arterial blood pressure and stroke outcome.