Safety and Efficacy of FETO in CDH: a Phase III Trial

Launched by HOLLY L HEDRICK, MD · Mar 13, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying a new treatment called fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) for babies diagnosed with congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), a serious birth defect that affects the diaphragm and can lead to underdeveloped lungs. The goal is to see if this treatment can help the lungs grow better before the baby is born, increasing their chances of survival and health after birth.

To participate in the trial, pregnant women must be at least 18 years old and have a single baby (not twins or more). The baby must have specific types of CDH and certain ultrasound results showing their lung development is at risk. Participants will receive care from a specialized team and may have to travel to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for treatment and follow-up visits. It's important for participants to have support during this process, as they will need to stay near the hospital for the duration of the pregnancy. If you're interested, please talk to your healthcare provider to see if this trial may be a good fit for you.

Gender

FEMALE

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Pregnant women age 18 years and older
• • 2. Singleton pregnancy
• • 3. Normal fetal karyotype with confirmation by culture results, whole exome sequencing (WES), whole genome sequencing (WGS), or chromosomal microarray with non-pathologic variants. Results by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) will be acceptable if the patient is greater than 26 weeks.
• • 4. Gestational age at enrollment is prior to 29 weeks 6 days
• • 5. Liver is intrathoracic
• 6. Isolated left congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) with observed/expected lung to head ratio (O/E LHR) of less than 30% at enrollment (18\^0 to 29\^5 weeks), or:
• • 7. Isolated right CDH with O/E LHR equal to or less than 45% at enrollment (18\^0 to 29\^5 weeks).
• • 8. Cervical length by transvaginal ultrasound equal to or greater than 20 mm within 24 hours of fetoscopic endoluminal tracheal occlusion (FETO) procedure
• • 9. Patient meets psychosocial criteria
• • 10. Informed consent
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Patient is less than 18 years of age
• • 2. Multi-fetal pregnancy
• • 3. History of natural rubber latex allergy
• • 4. Preterm labor, cervix shortened (less than 20 mm at enrollment or within 24 hours of FETO balloon insertion procedure) or uterine anomaly strongly predisposing to preterm labor, placenta previa
• 5. Psychosocial ineligibility, precluding consent:
• • Inability to reside within 30 minutes of the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and inability to comply with the travel for the follow-up requirements of the trial
• • Patient does not have a support person (e.g. spouse, partner, mother) available to stay with the patient for the duration of the pregnancy at CHOP
• • 6. Bilateral CDH, isolated left sided CDH with O/E LHR greater than or equal to 30% (measured at 18\^0 to 29\^5 weeks), isolated right sided CDH with O/E LHR greater than 45% (measured at 180 to 295 weeks), as determined by ultrasound
• • 7. No Liver herniation into thoracic cavity.
• • 8. Additional fetal anomaly by ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or echocardiogram at the fetal treatment center. Exclude chromosomal abnormalities, associated anomalies recognized to alter survival prognosis (ie. CDH and congenital heart disease) or presence of an underlying genetic syndrome (ie. Fryns). No cases will be removed post hoc if abnormalities are discovered in the course of post-operative monitoring.
• • 9. Maternal contraindication to fetoscopic surgery or severe maternal medical condition in pregnancy
• • 10. History of incompetent cervix with or without cerclage
• • 11. Placental abnormalities (previa, abruption, accrete) known at time of enrollment.
• • 12. Maternal-fetal Rh isoimmunization, Kell sensitization or neonatal alloimmune thrombocytopenia affecting the current pregnancy.
• • 13. Maternal HIV, Hepatitis-B, Hepatitis-C status positive because of the increased risk of transmission to the fetus during maternal-fetal surgery. If the patient's HIV or Hepatitis status is unknown, the patient must be tested and found to have negative results before enrollment.
• • 14. Uterine anomaly such as large or multiple fibroids or mullerian duct abnormality
• • 15. There is no safe or technically feasible fetoscopic approach to balloon placement.
• • 16. Participation in another intervention study that influences maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality or participation in this trial in a previous pregnancy.

Trial Officials