Experimental Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia in a Fetal Lamb Model (I)

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to construct a fetal animal model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a lamb under domestic environments. METHODS: Left-sided diaphragmatic hernias were created in seven fetal lambs at about 85 days' gestation (experimental group). Three other fetal lambs did not receive any surgical procedure and served as control group. Four of these lambs (3 in the experimental group and 1 in the control group) were delivered after a sufficient intrauterine period. The morphological changes of lung development were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Creation of diaphragmatic hernia resulted in marked hypoplasia in fetal lung development. In this experiment, the maternal mortality was 33.3%, and the fetal mortality was 60% which are relatively high as compared with previous reports. CONCLUSION: From this data, the authors concluded that experimental fetal diaphragmatic hernia can be established although the technique for the measurement of gestational age, anesthesia and postoperative care should be improved to overcome domestic inexperience in using the lamb as an experimental animal.