Development of a Novel Recurrent Gastrointestinal Bleeding Model in Swine for Provocative Mesenteric Angiography

Abstract

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop a novel swine model of recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding that could potentially be utilized for the study of provocative mesenteric angiography. Methods Animal experiments were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. The superior mesenteric artery was catheterized via percutaneous transfemoral access. Via laparotomy, multiple small incisions were created in the small bowel wall of four swine. After hemostasis was achieved, varying amounts of thrombolytics were infused into the superior mesenteric artery via a 5 french catheter. The number of incisions with observable rebleeding and interval until rebleeding were ascertained. Results In a test animal, active extravasation was confirmed to be detectable on digital subtraction angiography at a small bowel incision site. After tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration into the superior mesenteric artery, rebleeding from the incisions was visually observed in 11 of 30 small bowel incisions (37%). Provoked bleeding occurred at a median of 6 minutes (mean: 5 minutes and 52 seconds) after completion of tPA injection with a range of approximately 1 to 10 minutes. Conclusion This pilot study proposes a feasible model for provocative mesenteric angiography in swine.