Antenatal cardiac surgery. Creation of an experimental model of pulmonary stenosis in the fetus and repair in utero
Bical, O.; Gallix, P.; Donzeau-Gouge, P.; Laborde, F.; de Riberolles, C.; Tran Viet, T.; Toussaint, M.; Sidi, D.; Neveux, J.Y.
Archives des Maladies du Coeur et des Vaisseaux 78(3): 445-449
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9683 PMID: 3923977 Document Number: 254260
An experimental model of pulmonary stenosis was created in ewes, fetus and repaired before birth by making use of the materno-foetal circulation. Eighteen ewes fetus underwent pulmonary artery banding at an average of 87 +/- 8 days' gestation (normal 135-145 days). All were reoperated before term at 132 +/- 6 days' gestation. They were divided into two groups : group I (7 fetus) was used to evaluate the experimental model of pulmonary stenosis by measuring right ventricular pressures (80 +/- 16 mmHg compared to 58 +/- 10 mmHg in control models), and the increase in right ventricular mass (2.8 +/- 0.5 X 10(-3) g vs 1.9 +/- 0.2 X 10(-3) g), left ventricular mass (2.2 +/- 0.3 X 10(-3) g vs 1.8 +/- 0.4 X 10(-3) g) and septal mass (1.8 +/- 0.3 X 10(-3) g vs 1.3 +/- 0.2 X 10(-3) g). In group II (11 fetus) the pulmonary stenosis was repaired by total clamping and patch repair. After repair and during the days just before birth, the ventricular masses decreased (RV = 2 +/- 0.3 X 10(-3) g; LV = 1.8 +/- 0.4 X 10(-3) g; septum = 1.8 +/- 0.3 X 10(-3) g) approaching values of normal control fetus. This experimental model shows that it is possible to correct cardiac lesions in utero by making use of the materno-fetal circulation and that antenatal repair of an arterial obstruction can rapidly reverse the reactional ventricular hypertrophy.