title: An experimental animal model of intestinal obstruction to simulate in utero therapy for jejunoileal atresia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain 'intestinal atresia-like' conditions in the fetal lamb model to subsequently allow in utero surgical repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six time-dated pregnant sheep underwent general anesthesia at 75 days of gestation (term 145 +/- 5 days). After maternal laparotomy and hysterotomy, the fetal abdomen was opened. Once the jejunoileal intestinal loop was identified, the mesenteric vessels were isolated, ligated, and sectioned in 2 fetuses, and in the remaining 5 fetuses the bowel loop was ligated. Two further fetuses were used as controls and underwent sole laparotomy. Of the group of 7 fetuses 2 were reoperated at 100-105 days of gestational age and underwent intestinal recanalization. Eight fetuses were delivered at term by cesarean section and the remaining 1 by spontaneous delivery. One newborn underwent neonatal entero-enteric anastomosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4 out of 6 fetuses survived, in utero intestinal or vascular ligation having provoked an 'intestinal atresia-like' picture. The animal operated at birth died. The 2 control fetuses and the 2 fetuses with in utero intestinal recanalization survived until term.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that in utero treatment of intestinal obstruction is possible in an experimental model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Rome.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Patricolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Noia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zangari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pomini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Catesini
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Filippetti
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Iacobelli
authors.forename: L G
authors.initials: LG
authors.lastname: Capuano
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivosecchi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D007082:Ileum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery; D008026:Ligation; D011247:Pregnancy; D012756:Sheep