Sampling the fetoplacental circulation. III. Combined laparoscopy-fetoscopy in the pregnant macaque for hemoglobin identification

To demonstrate increased technical experience with fetoscopy and fetal blood sampling, two groups of macaques were compared to control animals. Group 2 had a perinatal mortality rate that was not significantly different from that of the control group. A 2.7 mm. Hopkins rod lens endoscope encased in an eccentric cannula, 3.8 mm. outside diameter, was used. When compared to the earlier test group (Group 1), the later test group (Group 2) showed greater adequacy of the fetal blood sample for laboratory analysis (P < 0.01). Anthropometric and hematologic data collected at term births compared favorably in test and control groups, with the exception of the white blood cell count, which was significantly lower with fetoscopy (P < 0.01). This is the first report of experimental fetoscopy with the use of a control group to provide precise data to aid in clarification of the ethical issues yet unresolved in this technology.