Animal models of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) still are indispensable for the
evolution of knowledge related to this disease and to fetal surgery in general. The lamb has
provided the most reliable experimental design thus far. Considering the possible
advantages of using rabbits (rather than lambs) namely lower costs, no need of special
veterinary facilities, smaller body size, year-round availability, higher number of fetuses per
pregnancy, and shorter gestational period, a successful model of CDH was developed in …