Objective: To establish and evaluate an acute pulmonary embolism (APTE) model by selective thromboembolism of lower left pulmonary artery in minipig.
Methods: Through intervention technique, a guiding catheter was inserted via femoral vein into pulmonary artery. And quantitative autologous venous thrombus was injected into the selected lower left pulmonary arteries in 8 minipigs. Thus the intended APTE model was established by selective thromboembolism of lower left pulmonary artery. Hemodynamic parameters were monitored. And computed tomography (CT) and macroscopic dissection were performed to evaluate the minipig APTE model.
Results: The measurements of mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP, mm Hg, 1 mm Hg = 0.133 kPa) and pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP, mm Hg) immediately increased significantly after thromboembolism versus the baseline values (MPAP: 42.0 ± 3.4 vs 20.2 ± 3.0, PCWP: 8 ± 2 vs 4 ± 3, both P < 0.05) and stayed at a higher level during the following 2 h. No significant difference existed between the value of cardiac output (CO) at 2 h post-thromboembolism and its baseline counterpart. Moreover, systemic arterial pressure (SAP, mm Hg) and heart rate (HR, beats/min) significantly increased after embolism versus the baseline values (SAP: 102 ± 12 vs 80 ± 7, HR: 119 ± 22 vs 86 ± 14, P = 0.008). Pulmonary arteriography, CT scan and gross anatomy all demonstrated that the selected lower left pulmonary arteries was successfully embolized.
Conclusion: The establishment of APTE model by selective thromboembolism of lower left pulmonary artery is feasible, well-controlled and stable in minipigs.