The effect analysis and comparison between gastroschisis and tracheal ligation on experimental diaphragmatic hernia in fetal rabbits.
OBJECTIVE
The authors analyzed and compared the effects of experimentally induced gastroschisis and tracheal ligation on pulmonary hypoplasia in fetal rabbits with congenital diaphragmatic hernia.


METHODS
Twenty-three pregnant rabbits underwent fetal surgery on gestational day 24 through 27. Left diaphragmatic hernia was created in 1 fetus (DH group) from each rabbit, and a left diaphragmatic hernia with gastroschisis (GS group) or tracheal ligation (TL group) was created in another fetuses. The fetuses were delivered on gestational day 27 through 33. Histologic and morphometric examination of the lungs were performed in each group.


RESULTS
In the DH group, the lungs were hypoplastic with a decrease in lung weight to body weight ratio and an increase in pulmonary arterial wall thickness. The alveolar septae were markedly thickened and diminished alveolar air spaces. In GS and TL groups, the alveolar septae were thickened but narrower than those of the DH group, air spaces were increased, and the pulmonary arterial wall was only slightly thickened.


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary hypoplasia seen in newborn rabbits after experimentally induced diaphragmatic hernia is less severe in those rabbits with concurrently made gastroschisis or tracheal ligation. From the histologic viewpoint, the effects of gastroschisis and tracheal ligation on pulmonary hypoplasia in diaphragmatic hernia have no differences.
Chun
Yong-Soon
YS
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Inje University Pusan Paik Hospital, Pusanjin-ku, Pusan 614-735, Korea. chunysmd@yahoo.co.kr
Jung
Soo-Jin
SJ
D000818:Animals; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005315:Fetal Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D020139:Gastroschisis / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000150:complications*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008026:Ligation / Q000379:methods; D008168:Lung / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000196:embryology; D008176:Lung Volume Measurements; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D012016:Reference Values; D015619:Respiratory System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014132:Trachea / Q000196:embryology / Q000601:surgery*