Chronic fetal vascular access.
Intensive management of the fetus is limited by our inability to achieve access to the fetal circulation. Using laparoscopic surgery, we can maintain long-term access to the fetal circulation by extra-amniotic catheterisation of chorionic vessels in third-trimester monkeys and early-gestation sheep. We can sample fetal blood, continuously measure blood pressure, and infuse drugs without complications. Safe vascular access will permit assessment of fetal status during fetal surgical procedures and improve postoperative monitoring.
Hedrick
M H
MH
Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco 94143.
Jennings
R W
RW
MacGillivray
T E
TE
Rice
H E
HE
Flake
A W
AW
Adzick
N S
NS
Harrison
M R
MR
D000818:Animals; D005323:Fetal Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005333:Fetus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000601:surgery*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012756:Sheep; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000601:surgery