Fetoscopy-guided fetal endoscopy in a sheep model.
Video-endoscopic surgical treatment of the fetus may, in the future, become an alternative to open fetal operation. Six 95-day-old fetal lambs were examined through intrauterine endoscopy using amnioinfusion and specially designed balloon-tipped cannulas. The fetuses were monitored endoscopically for oxygen saturation, heart rate and temperature throughout the procedure. With a rigid 5 millimeter telescope and a flexible 3 millimeter endoscope, the respiratory and upper gastrointestinal tracts could be examined. No mucosal or other trauma was noted upon completion of the endoscopy; all lambs survived the procedure. While the applications of fetal endosurgery are likely to be similar to those of open fetal operation, fetal endoscopy (looking in the fetus) is a new entity for which clinical relevance (rather than mere feasibility) remains to be demonstrated. This technique, however, could become a valuable research tool to study fetal gastrointestinal and pulmonary physiologic factors in situ.
Luks
F I
FI
Centre of Surgical Technologies, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium.
Deprest
J A
JA
Vandenberghe
K
K
Laermans
I
I
De Simpelaere
L
L
Brosens
I A
IA
Lerut
T
T
D000818:Animals; D020776:Endoscopes, Gastrointestinal; D016099:Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D020669:Fetoscopes; D005332:Fetoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012137:Respiratory System; D012756:Sheep; D013690:Television / Q000295:instrumentation