Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 26, 2026
The Perinatal Asphyxiated Lamb Model: A Model for Newborn Resuscitation
Published on: August 15, 2018
Fetoscopic management of gastroschisis in a lamb model
Robert Bergholz1, Thomas Krebs, Katharina Wenke
1Department of Pediatric Surgery, UKE: University Hospital Eppendorf, Altona Children's Hospital, Bleickenallee 38, 22767, Hamburg, Germany. robert@bergholz-berlin.de
Background:
Gastroschisis is a malformation consisting of an abdominal wall defect with eviscerated bowel. Its standard treatment is postnatal repositioning or temporary prosthetic bag placement. The aim of our study is to evaluate the feasibility of its fetoscopic management in a lamb model.
Methods:
At mid-gestation (day 75), gastroschisis was created in eight German blackhead sheep. A second fetoscopic procedure was performed on day 105, assessing the viability, extension, and potential for repositioning of eviscerated bowel. The fetus was retrieved by Cesarean section on day 132 and evaluated.
Results:
In six fetuses gastroschisis could be successfully created and assessed with fetoscopy. Two fetuses were lost due to technical complications. Primary repair by repositioning the intestine into the abdomen was not possible because it grew into an inflammatory conglomerate too large for the small fetal abdominal cavity.
Conclusions:
Although technically demanding, we were able to produce and reassess six cases of gastroschisis by fetoscopy. As primary repositioning appears unfavorable, fetoscopic prosthetic bag placement may become an alternative.
