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Updated: Apr 1, 2026
Continuous Telemetric In Utero Tracheal Pressure Measurements in Fetal Lambs
Published on: December 22, 2023
Pressure limited vesico-amniotic shunt allows normal lung growth in a fetal lamb model of obstructive uropathy
Kunihide Tanaka1, Junki Koike2, Juma Obayashi1
1Division of Pediatric Surgery, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan.
Background:
In our fetal lamb model of lower urinary tract obstruction, a pressure limited shunt preserves bladder function and renal development. This study investigates the effects on pulmonary histology.
Methods:
We created obstructive uropathy (OU) in 60-day gestation fetal lambs, ligating the urethra and urachus, and delivering them at term (130-145days). We compared pulmonary histology in 4 groups: group A, OU without shunt; group B, pressure limited shunt; group C, non-valved shunt. Shunts were inserted 3weeks post-obstruction. Group D were normal controls.
Results:
We compared 27 fetuses: 7 fetuses in group A, 4 fetuses in group B, 2 fetuses in group C, and 14 fetuses in group D. There was no significant difference in lung volume in any group. In group A, there were some areas of atelectasis and incomplete alveolar formation histologically. The alveoli in group A lambs lungs had a predominance of type II cells, whereas group B lambs lungs were lined by type I epithelial cells and were essentially indistinguishable from controls.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that using a pressure-limited vesico-amniotic shunt in OU may preserve the renal tract and the lungs.
