DSA and TCD evaluation of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits

Objective To validate the feasibility of the selective angiography of the vertebral-basal artery in cerebral vasospasm animal mode1 after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbit via the transfemoral route and evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Doppler ultrasound (TCD) in the assessment of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits. Methods Vasospasm was induced in rabbits by the double injections of blood into the cisterna magna. The selective angiographies of the vertebral-basal artery were performed before and the 3 rd、5 th day after operation to detect cerebral vasospasm and TCD was used to assess the blood flow rate of basal artery before and the 1st、3rd、5th、7th day after operation. Results The selective angiography of the vertebral-basal artery was successfully achieved in cerebral vasospasm animal mode1 after subarachnoid hemorrhage The high quality and intensity of basilar arterial TCD image was obtained and blood flow rate of the basal artery was assessed by improving frequency of ultrasound signal. Conclusions Selective angiography of the vertebral-basal artery in cerebral vasospasm animal mode1 after subarachnoid hemorrhage can be obtained via the transfemoral route TCD is easy and accurate method to assess the blood flow rate of basal artery. There is a good correlation between TCD and DSA in assessment of the cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage in rabbits.