PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mokin, Maxim
AU  - Pionessa, Donald
AU  - Koenigsknecht, Carmon
AU  - Gutierrez, Liza
AU  - Setlur Nagesh, Swetadri Vasan
AU  - Meess Tuttle, Karen M
AU  - Spengler, Mike
AU  - Akkad, Yousef
AU  - Vakharia, Kunal
AU  - Shapiro, Maksim
AU  - Gounis, Matthew J
AU  - Levy, Elad I
AU  - Siddiqui, Adnan H
TI  - A novel swine model of selective middle meningeal artery catheterization and embolization
AID  - 10.1136/jnis-2024-021481
DP  - 2025 Feb 01
TA  - Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery
PG  - 210--214
VI  - 17
IP  - 2
4099  - http://jnis.bmj.com/content/17/2/210.short
4100  - http://jnis.bmj.com/content/17/2/210.full
SO  - J NeuroIntervent Surg2025 Feb 01; 17
AB  - Background Middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization is a promising intervention as a stand-alone or adjunct treatment to surgery in patients with chronic subdural hematomas. There are currently no large animal models for selective access and embolization of the MMA for preclinical evaluation of this endovascular modality. Our objective was to introduce a novel in vivo model of selective MMA embolization in swine.Methods Diagnostic cerebral angiography with selective microcatheter catheterization into the MMA was performed under general anesthesia in five swine. Anatomical variants in arterial meningeal supply were examined. In two animals, subsequent embolization of the MMA with a liquid embolic agent (Onyx-18) was performed, followed by brain tissue harvest and histological analysis.Results The MMA was consistently localized as a branch of the internal maxillary artery just distal to the origin of the ascending pharyngeal artery. Additional meningeal supply was observed from the external ophthalmic artery, although not present consistently. MMA embolization with Onyx was technically successful and feasible. Histological analysis showed Onyx material within the MMA lumen.Conclusions Microcatheter access into the MMA in swine with liquid embolic agent delivery represents a reproducible model of MMA embolization. Anatomical variations in the distribution of arterial supply to the meninges exist. This model has a potential application for comparing therapeutic effects of various embolic agents in a preclinical setting that closely resembles the MMA embolization procedure in humans.Additional data from this study can be acquired by contacting the corresponding author on reasonable request Not applicable.