Fetal membrane closure techniques after hysteroamniotomy in the midgestational rabbit model.
OBJECTIVE
We studied closure techniques for amniotic access in midgestational rabbits.


METHODS
Twenty-eight rabbits with a total of 313 amniotic sacs were used for this study. In each animal a 1 cm hysteroamniotomy was made in two amniotic sacs at 22 days' gestation (term = 32). For 12 amniotic sacs (group 1) only the myometrium was closed by microsurgical suturing. In group 2 (n = 12), sutures included myometrium and membranes. In group 3 (n = 8), a collagen plug was placed, and in group 4 (n = 12) fibrin glue was used. Twelve sacs were left unclosed (positive controls) and the unmanipulated 257 sacs were negative controls. Eight days later (gestational age 30 days) amniotic sacs were evaluated for the presence of amniotic fluid, membrane integrity, and fetal weight and survival. Statistics were done with two-tailed Fisher's exact test and one-way analysis of variance.


RESULTS
Membrane integrity (p = 0.0036) and amniotic fluid (p = 0.047) were best restored after myometrial closure. Fetal weight and survival rate were not affected by different closure techniques.


CONCLUSIONS
In this model primary closure of the myometrium only yielded best results.
Papadopulos
N A
NA
Centre for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospitals, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium.
Van Ballaer
P P
PP
Ordoñez
J L
JL
Laermans
I J
IJ
Vandenberghe
K
K
Lerut
T E
TE
Deprest
J A
JA
D000650:Amnion / Q000601:surgery*; D000653:Amniotic Fluid; D000818:Animals; D002823:Chorion / Q000601:surgery; D005321:Extraembryonic Membranes / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D005865:Gestational Age; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D013536:Suture Techniques; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery*
D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive