Intrauterine cardiothoracic surgery: the fetal lamb model

We have developed fetal lamb models of congenital cardiothoracic lesions that have been allowed to progress through birth for physiological study. Simulated lesions, simulated repairs, actual lesions, and actual repairs have been performed in this model. Sixty-two fetal lambs comprised the study group, including 48 in which models were created and 14 controls. Models included pulmonary stenosis, aortic stenosis, and diaphragmatic hernia. Gestational age ranged from 90 to 120 days (0.6 of normal gestation). In each pregnant ewe, laparotomy and hysterotomy were performed under general anesthesia, with care taken to avoid placental vessels. The foreleg was exposed, the appropriate anterior chest wall was isolated, and a thoracotomy was done. Thoracic or cardiac procedures then were performed under controlled transplacental anesthesia and perfusion. Following completion of the procedure, the fetal thoracotomy was closed, sterile antibiotic solution was placed in the amniotic sac, and the hysterotomy and laparotomy were closed. Subsequently the fetus either was allowed to progress to birth and infant study or underwent subsequent intrauterine repair and then was allowed to progress to birth and neonatal study. This fetal lamb model provides reproducible anatomical and pathophysiological lesions to facilitate the development of techniques for repair of such lesions in early infancy. Further, it offers the potential for developing methods of intrauterine cardiothoracic surgical repair.