Iatrogenic gastroschisis in an ovine model of left-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Objective: To assess the effect of an iatrogenic gastroschisis on fetal pulmonary growth in an animal model of congenital left-sided diaphragmatic hernia (CDH).

Methods: Eighteen time-dated ewes were studied: Group I: healthy controls (H); Group II: CDH controls (untreated) (CDH); Group III: CDH and iatrogenic gastroschisis (CDH+GS). CDH was created in Groups II and III at a mean gestational age of 85 days as previously described.