Construction of experimental "giant" aneurysms.

Giant aneurysms were produced in dogs by initially producing a fistula between the common carotid artery and the external jugular vein. One week later the vein was ligated above and below the fistula to create a blind aneurysmal pouch. This model has been found useful in testing experimental techniques of aneurysmal obliteration by direct injection into the sac while the lumen of the parent vessel is temporarily protected by an endovascular balloon inflated at the neck of the aneurysm.