Effects of Maternal Abdominal Surgery on Fetal Brain Development in the Rabbit Model.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Anesthesia during pregnancy can impair fetal neurodevelopment, but effects of surgery remain unknown. The aim is to investigate effects of abdominal surgery on fetal brain development. Hypothesis is that surgery impairs outcome.

Methods

Pregnant rabbits were randomized at 28 days of gestation to 2 h of general anesthesia (sevoflurane group, n = 6) or to anesthesia plus laparoscopic appendectomy (surgery group, n = 13). On postnatal day 1, neurobehavior of pups was assessed and brains harvested. Primary outcome was neuron density in the frontal cortex, and secondary outcomes included neurobehavioral assessment and other histological parameters.

Results

Fetal survival was lower in the surgery group: 54 versus 100% litters alive at birth (p = 0.0442). In ali

SUBMITTER: Bleeser T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7613467 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature