Cutaneous respiration in a fetal incubator

Abstract

The potentials of a fetal incubator utilizing cutaneous respiration have been discussed, and the use of a simple pressure chamber with controlled temperature, suitable for small newborn mammals and human fetuses, has been described.Newborn mice, immersed in water for 60 minutes, showed the greatest tendency to survive at temperatures ranging from 7° to 22° C. The composition of the immersion solution and its oxygen tension appeared not to influence the survival rate under normal atmospheric conditions. Fetal mice appeared to be intolerant of temperatures below 30° C. Newborn mice, immersed in Hank's basic salt solution for 6 hours under varying temperatures and oxygen pressures, demonstrated peak survival in the temperature range of 21° to 29° C. and under oxygen pressures of 200 to 300 pounds per square inch. Decapitation of the mice prior to immersion did not alter their ability to maintain cardiac action in the chamber.Eifteen human fetuses, varying in age between 9 and 24 weeks, were immersed in Hank's solution at a temperature of 35° C. and an oxygen pressure of 250 pounds per square inch. The longest survival at 35° C. was 23 hours, which represents a significant increase over times previously noted.Cutaneous respiration appears to be a promising mechanism to maintain the oxygen supply of an extrauterine fetus.