Dynamic evaluation of delayed cerebral vasospasm and effect of nimodipine therapy by multi spiral CT angiography in rabbits

Objective To dynamically evaluate delayed cerebral vasospasm(DCVS) and effect of nimodipine therapy by multispiral CT angiography(MS-CTA). Methods DCVS was induced in 30 rabbit by injection of autologous blood into the cisterna magna followed by a second injection 24 h later. The animals were divided into subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) group (n=15) and nimodipine group (n=15);and MS-CTA examination was performed d1, 4, 7, and 14 after SAH. Source images were adopted by volume rendering (VR). Results The differences in diameters of basilar artery detected by MS-CTA in d1, d4, d7 and d14 after SAH were statistically significant(P0.05), however, there was no significant difference between nimodipine group and SAH group(P0.05). Conclusion MS-CTA can be recommended as a dynamic, rapid and reliable method for evaluation of DCVS and the effect after nimodipine therapy.