Fetal Surgery: Gastroschisis Model in Rabbits

ABSTRACT

This study was to develop a technique for creating gastroschisis by fetal surgery on a pregnant New Zealand white rabbit and to develop a technique for full-term delivery of a mature fetal rabbit after the repair of the abdominal wall incision in the fetal rabbit. The fetal surgery was done on the 24th or the 25th day of pregnancy and the experiment was divided into two parts the creation of gastroschisis in the fetal rabbit and celiotomy-repair in the fetal rabbit. To creat gastroschisis, celiotomy and evisceration of the intes-tine in the fetal rabbit was made at both cornua on the 24th or the 25th day of pregnancy. After 6 days, a Caesarean section was done to deliver two gastroschisis fetal rabbits and two normal fetal rabbits. For the celiotomy-repair, celiotomy-evisceration and immediate repair of the fetal rabbit was made at both cornua on the 24th or the 25th day of pregnancy. After 6 days, a Caesarean section was done to deliver two experimental fetal rabbits and two normal fetal rabbits. Gastroschisis was successfully produced in 10 out of the 38 fetal rabbits operated on. Celiotomy-repair was done in 38 fetal rabbits. The abdominal wound was successfully repaired in 9 out of these 38 cases. Microscopically, inflammation or scarring was found neither at the gastroschisis wall margin nor at the repaired abdominal wound; however, fibroblast proliferation was found at the repaired abdominal wound. This result coincided with the general tissue finding of the fetal surgery. The conclusions are as follows 1. By fetal surgery, experimental gastroschisis was created in fetal rabbits, and 2. The experimental abdominal wound was successfully repaired by surgery on the fetal rabbits.