A novel translational model of percutaneous fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion - baboons (Papio spp.).
BACKGROUND
Percutaneous fetoscopic endoluminal reversible tracheal occlusion (FETO) was developed to prevent the pulmonary complications of fetal congenital diaphragmatic herniation. There is an urgent need to establish the closest to human translational model of FETO in order to improve fetal outcomes and to determine new clinical approaches and applications.


METHODS
Seven non-human primates underwent two subsequent surgeries: the first, the FETO in the experimental group (n = 3) or sham operation in the control animals (S-FETO, n = 4) at 132-142 days of gestation (dGA); the second, the reversal of occlusion or sham operation at 162 ± 5 dGA. Maternal stress axis, complete blood count, and biochemical parameters were evaluated and newborn tracheal radiography was performed.


RESULTS
The average pregnancy duration and neonatal weights in the FETO group did not differ from the animals in the S-FETO group. There was no bleeding or premature fetal membrane rupture during the procedures in any of the baboons. The maximal tracheal width was 7.02 ± 0.6 mm in the FETO versus 5.46 ± 0.6 mm in S-FETO group.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the very first report of a successful FETO model in non-human primates. Similarities to human tracheomegaly were for the first time documented in any model studied.
Division of Maternal and Fetal Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tenn., USA.
Giancarlo
G
Mari
Jan
J
Deprest
Mauro
M
Schenone
Scott
S
Jackson
Jacques
J
Samson
Brian
B
Brocato
Danielle
D
Tate
Ryan
R
Sullivan
Garry
G
White
Reddy
R
Dhanireddy
Timothy
T
Mandrell
Sonali
S
Gupta
Cezary
C
Skobowjat
Andrzej
A
Slominski
Harris L
HL
Cohen
Natalia
N
Schlabritz-Loutsevitch
D000818:Animals; D005332:Fetoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D006548:Hernia, Diaphragmatic / Q000601:surgery; D065630:Hernias, Diaphragmatic, Congenital; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology*; D023421:Models, Animal; D010215:Papio; D014132:Trachea / Q000601:surgery