Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Gastroschisis is a rare and serious congenital abdominal wall defect disease, and often leads to the development imbalance between the intestine and abdominal cavity with inflammatory thickened bowel.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility of intrauterine abdominal defect repair of fetal lamb in the mid-trimester.
METHODS: Eight healthy pregnant ewes (at 75-80 days of gestation, with single fetus) were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 (3 lambs): the abdominal wall defect was closed by strengthening suture; Group 2 (5 lambs): the abdominal wall defect was repaired by two layers of biomatrix. After the lambs delivered naturally, the abdominal walls were examined pathologically.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Three lambs of group 1 were successfully delivered, the abdominal incision healed well with a line-like scar, intra-abdominal adhesions was minor. A slight scar was seen on the tissue section. One lamb of the group 2 aborted, while 4 lambs delivered, the abdominal incision of the four lambs healed with obvious scar, intra-abdominal adhesions was minor. The fiber connective tissue was seen mainly on the tissue section. It was feasible to repair the abdominal wall defect of fetal lamb in mid-trimester. For fetal lamb, the abdominal wall scar was minor after direct suture. For larger abdominal wall defect, biomatrix patch was a promising material.