Fetal intervention for congenital diaphragmatic hernia.

Despite improvements in surgical techniques, the results of open fetal surgery to correct congenital diaphragmatic hernia have been disappointing. Hysterotomy induces preterm labour and, where there is a large volume of liver in the fetal chest, reduction of the liver into the abdomen induces immediate fetal death. Less invasive techniques, using both open surgery and fetoscopy, are being developed in the hope of reducing fetal demise. These techniques include blocking the trachea, the creation of an artificial gastroschisis and induction of graft tolerance for postnatal lung transplantation.