Evaluation of a percutaneously controlled hydraulic occluder in a rat model of gradual venous occlusion.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of a percutaneously controlled hydraulic occluder (HO) in a rat model of gradual venous occlusion.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Animals: Ten male Sprague-Dawley rats.

Methods: HOs and perivascular transit time ultrasound flow probes were applied to the caudal vena cava (CVC). Occluders in group I rats (n=6) were gradually attenuated over 8 weeks, whereas occluders in group II rats (n=4) were not attenuated. Vena caval blood flow measurements were performed weekly in all rats for 8 weeks. After euthanasia, the CVC was evaluated grossly and by histopathology.

Results: Premature occlusion of the vena cava occurred during the 1st week in 3 rats (1 in group I, 2 in group II) because of kinking of the vena cava between the HO and the flow probe. For the remaining rats, mean blood flow in group I decreased significantly from 40.71 mL/min/kg at baseline to 4.68 mL/min/kg at 8 weeks (P=.0094, power=0.91). Group II rats maintained vena caval blood flow at all times during the study. Complete occlusion of the vena cava was confirmed at necropsy in all group I rats.

Conclusions: Gradual occlusion of the CVC of rats was achieved with HOs over 8 weeks. This model is limited by the size of the experimental animals and comparatively large implants.

Clinical Relevance: HOs may provide a method for gradual occlusion of congenital portosystemic shunts.